Idrus Abdulahi debuts for Melbourne City

Year 10 Maribyrnong Sports Academy student Idrus Abdulahi has made his first team debut for Melbourne City Football Club and in doing so has become the fifth youngest player in the history of Australian football to make his senior debut.

Idrus was named on the bench at the start of the A-League season, but had to wait until the final round of the year to finally run onto the park. He did that on Friday night in Melbourne City’s 5-0 win against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park when coach Warren Joyce brought on the 15 year old  at the 81st minute of the game.

The Midfielder playing a big part in City’s 5th goal with a sublime cross to Ramy Najjarine.

At 15 years and 220 days old, Idrus is the youngest player to debut for Melbourne City in the A-League and is now setting his sights on September’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup, after his impressive 15-minute cameo.

Idrus happy to now have that record against his name.  

''I was training with the first team the whole week and the gaffer told me I might get a chance and to be ready.'

''I thought I was dreaming, I thought I was in my bedroom last night. I was tapping myself the whole game. Jamo [captain Scott Jamieson] looked after me, told me where to be, the team really helped me out.

''I was going to cry when Ramy scored that one. The gaffer told me to get that ball, I did a one-two with Lachie [Wales], so I am very happy.''

''My goal now is to represent the Joeys in the next World Cup,'' he says.

City coach Warren Joyce happy with the youngsters debut..

“The young kid Idrus did well when he came on. He didn’t look like a little schoolboy, he put Matt Simon on his arse and broke away for the fifth goal and showed a lot of character, composure and willingness to run for the team,” Joyce said.

“Pleasing for him to come on and give a good account of himself.”

All of us here at Maribyrnong Sports Academy and Maribyrnong College congratulate Idrus on his achievement and wish him all the best in the A-League Finals.

AFL program delivers again.

The AFL Program at Maribyrnong Sports Academy continues to provide high quality talent to the Sports Talent Pathway.

During the School holidays of term 1, six of our Academy students played in the U16 state Carnival 

Western Jets:

Massimo D’Ambrosio (Yr 10) Captain

Paul Curtis (Yr 11)

Connor Schibeci  (Yr 10)

Cody Barker (Yr 10)

Ben Massiol (Yr 11)

Calder Cannons:

Ryan Martin (Yr 10) Vice Captain

Congratulations to Massimo D’Ambrossio and Paul Curtis who have made the initial Victoria Metro Squad to compete at the National Carnival in June this year.

Also Emerson Jeka (Yr 12) represented Australia in an 18 and under representative side which played against VFL side Casey Scorpions at the MCG on Saturday April 20. Australia coming from behind to win the game 23 points in the end.  Emerson will now focus his attention on the upcoming under 18 National Championships which begin in June.

MSA Students fire at the Athletics Nationals

A number of MSA past and present athletics squad members will be representing Australia after outstanding performances at the recent Australian Athletics Championships

Current students Aliyah Canepa (hammer throw) and Angus Wood (triple jump) have been selected to represent Australia at the Oceania Championships in June, alongside past students Catherine Mendes (triple jump), Jamieson Battistella (high Jump and heptathlon) and Celeste Mucci (100m hurdles and heptathlon)

Celeste Mucci will have further Australian Representative duties after being selected for the Australian relay team to compete at the World Relay Championships in Japan, and later this year at the World University Games in Italy. Celeste is also only the fourth ever Australian heptathlete to be invited to compete at the prestigious World Combined Event Challenge in Gotzis Austria next month.

Celeste had an amazing win in the national 100m hurdle final where she beat Australia’s two commonwealth games hurdlers and set the 8th fastest Australian time in history for the 100m hurdles 

Have a look at her race.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tvXxjK-2fOc

Congratulations to all our students who competed.