12-man squad named for Cerebral Palsy team

The Australian Cerebral Palsy (CP) team has been announced for November’s all-important FESPIC tournament that is being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Head Coach Paul Brown has named a 12-man team, with David Barber from Queensland named as captain.

The Australian Cerebral Palsy (CP) team has been announced for November-s all-important FESPIC tournament that is being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Head Coach Paul Brown has named a 12-man team, with David Barber from Queensland named as captain.

The FESPIC (formerly known as the Far East and South Pacific Games Federation) Games will be held from November 25-30 and acts as an important part of the qualification process for the 2008 Paralympics Games in Beijing, China.

With only eight teams qualifying for the 2008 Paralympics Games, Australia needs to win the FESPIC Games tournament and finish in the top ten at next year-s World Championship, to virtually guarantee a place at the Paralympics.

So far teams from Australia, Iran, Malaysia, Japan and China have nominated to be part of the FESPIC Games, with Iran, rated 3 or 4 in the world, the main obstacle for Australia to overcome.

Brown has picked an experienced squad, with only NSW 17-year-old Chris Restall yet to play for the CP team.

The full squad is: David Barber (Capt), Beau Menzies (both QLD), Chris Pyne (V-Capt), Brett Fairhall, Brett Cross, Jamie Laybutt, Sam Larkings, Marik Gleizer, Chris Restall (all NSW), Miguel Marcelino (WA), Ben Roche (VIC), Jason Driscoll (ACT)

Coaching staff: Head Coach Paul Brown NSW Assistant Coach Kai Lammert NSW Manager David Campbell NSW Physiotherapist Edward Davidson NSW

Barber, Pyne, Menzies and Marcelino all represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, while the remainder (except for Barber, Larkings and Restall) played at the teams last major tournament, the CP World Championships in Connecticut, USA last year.

The team will go into a training camp in November in Narrabeen, before heading off to Kuala Lumpur.