Aussies preparing for old enemy

Australian Paralympic 7-a-side Team captain David Barber has declared his team is “hungrier than ever” ahead of their Oceania Paralympic Championships first round clash on Tuesday.

Australian Paralympic 7-a-side Team captain David Barber has declared his team is “hungrier than ever” ahead of their Oceania Paralympic Championships first round clash on Tuesday.

The Australians have drawn arch-enemies England in the tournament opener, in what is one of the real grudge matches to be fought during the Arafura Games.

Barber and his Australian team-mates arrived in Darwin earlier this week for an intensive training camp ahead of the tantalizing clash against the old enemy at Mararra International Stadium.

The home side will be counting on the support of the Darwin crowd, to lift them to a winning start in the four-team competition also including Japan and Korea.

It will be the first time the Australian team has faced England since the 2007 CPISRA World Cup where England ended Australia-s hopes of 2008 Paralympic Games qualification.

“There-s a lot of history between the two sides, that-s for sure,” Barber said.

“We-re very hungry, that-s probably the best way to describe the feeling among the squad right now. The game can-t come quick enough.

“Things have come together really well since we arrived. The cohesion and shape is good, which is what we need.”

Barber-s comments were backed by Coach Paul Brown, who is looking for a good performance by the team in Darwin.

“Our preparations have been top notch and the players are looking forward to showing the football community how far they have come since the World Championships,” Brown said.

“Sometimes I have to remind myself that these players are players with a disability because some of the things they do on the pitch are world class”

“The boys are confident and playing well. They have acclimatised well and are pumped for the game against England.”

The Australian skipper also called on the people of Darwin to come out to the game and support his men.

“You want to take every chance you can to perform in front of your home crowd,” Barber said.

“It would be absolutely fantastic if the people of Darwin could come out and get right behind us.”

While Barber, and his vice-captain Chris Pyne, will again form the experienced core of the side, the Australians also boast an array of exciting young talent all hoping to impress during the four-team tournament.

Among the rising stars are Ben Atkins, 17, and Thomas Goodman, 18, who are just two of an impressive crop of rising stars being groomed for big things as the Australians continue their quest for London Paralympic Games qualification in 2012.

“Our squad is very young and it has been a long process to bring the young players up, but they have proven that they can match it with the seasoned veterans, ” Brown added.

“There has been a changing of the guard in the squad with a number of seasoned players making way for younger up and coming. These players have fitted in wonderfully the future of the squad is sound.”

The competition opener between Australia and England will kick off at 6:30pm on Tuesday, while the Japan and Korea clash takes place at 8:30pm