Sport
29 October, 2022
Locals excel at state soccer titles
BRISBANE VALLEY club soccer players excelled at the Christian Football Federation Association (CFFA) national titles at the Sunshine Coast earlier this month.
The Lowood-based club had two premiership-winning players, a Golden Boot award winner, a Golden Glove award winner, and players who were named in All Star teams as selected by referees and coaches.
Twelve players from the Lowood-based club represented Queensland teams, while 15 other players from the same club represented the Brisbane Valley U21 men’s team.
The Brisbane Valley U21 men’s team included a couple of ring-ins from Boonah as the squad was formed at short notice, before finishing runner- up in its division.
A number of the Brisbane Valley U21 men’s players had taken part in the Lowood-based club’s senior men’s Div 1 premiership, and so the team for the national titles had the benefit of many familiar combinations.
The team’s manager Boris Jaremenko, who is also vice- president of the Lowood-based club, said three interstate teams were late withdrawals from the U21 men’s division.
“Brisbane Valley were approached to form an U21 side to help fill that void with about two weeks’ notice,” he said.
The Brisbane Valley U21 men’s team was coached by the father and son combination of John and Lucas Wallwork, who coach the Lowood-based club’s senior men’s and U18 teams.
Max Jaremenko and Jai Chapman were part of the title-winning Queensland U21 men’s team while Brett Donald, Zac Heck, Jacob Veraart, Dean Meiklejohn and Aaron Schultz were in the Queensland team which finished runner-up in the senior men’s division.
The U21 men’s decider was a case of “mate against mate” as Queensland edged out Brisbane Valley 1-0, while there was interstate rivalry in the senior men’s decider as Victoria defeated Queensland 4-1.
Charlie Jarvis and Tenayah Acworth were in the Queensland team which reached the women’s semi-finals, and sisters Lilijana, Talija and Alicija Sajkar were in the Queensland women’s development team which came fifth.
The Golden Boot award winner in the U21 men’s division was Brisbane Valley’s Alan Low, who was the highest goal scorer in this division.
Alan was also named alongside Brisbane Valley teammates Nick Miller, Harry Holdway, Harry Kelleher, Max Hoban and Cameron Dalzell in the U21 men’s All Star team.
Alicija was named Golden Glove winner in the women’s division despite being just 14 years old, and she obligingly signed her autograph as requested for a young fan.
Alicija was also named with Lilijana in the Women’s All Star team.
“Having so many players compete in this tournament indicates the true quality and depth we have at our club,” Boris said.
“It is just reward for all the time and effort the club has contributed to ensure these players have the opportunity to participate in these competitions and have the skills to be selected in the first place.
“The club is very proud of these players.”
Boris also said it was commendable for the Queensland women’s development team to place fifth considering the players were aged 17 and under.
