Luke Duzel is starting to turn heads in Australian soccer circles, after the gifted teenager played two international tournaments and a national championship in the past two months.
Duzel, a year 10 student at Catholic Regional College North Keilor, was part of the under-16 Joeys side which came third in a tournament in Thailand, and then topped its group in the Asian Football Confederation under-16 Championships in Mongolia, which gives them the chance to qualify for the under-17 World Cup.
Duzel is taking it all in his stride.
“It was pretty amazing playing for your country,” he said.
“The fans in Asia are incredible, and the teams really love their soccer so they put in 110 per cent … there were some really tough games.”
The attacking midfielder plies his trade for Melbourne City in the local competition, and last week returned from a national tournament where he helped his Victorian teammates take out top spot. He was also named as one of the players of the tournament.
Duzel will now prepare for a summer of development with Melbourne City, before more Australian duties in the new year ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
