MIDFIELDER Troy Hearfield will become the first Wellington Phoenix player to be involved in a current Australian national team when he joins the Olyroos at a training camp in Townsville from May 1-May 8.
Hearfield is hoping to shine at the Townsville camp and gain selection to the Australian under-23 team to compete at the Malaysian Tournament in Kuala Lumpur from May 11-May 26. He will then be aiming to be part of the Australian team to compete at the Beijing Olympic Games from August 6-August 23.
The former Newcastle Jets youngster joined the Phoenix from the Hyundai A-League 2008 champions in March and has been busy training with his Wellington teammates.
“We-ve been working really hard in pre-season training and I feel I-m in great shape for this point in the season,” Hearfield said. “[Coach] Ricki Herbert and [strength and conditioning coach] Ed Baranowski are monitoring everything we-re doing to ensure we-re getting the maximum benefit from training and as a result I-m feeling fit and strong.”
Hearfield said his ambition was to cement a spot in the Olyroos squad for the Beijing Games.
“I-ll be working hard to make sure I-m in the squad to go to China. I-m really looking forward to playing some competitive football, especially after all the experience I-ve been able to get in just a short time with the Phoenix.”
Hearfield scored a dramatic late equaliser as the Olyroos drew 1-1 with Mexico in front of 47,440 fans in San Francisco in their last outing in March. The Olyroos are drawn in Group C for the Beijing Games alongside Argentina, the Ivory Coast and Serbia.
