By ROY WARD
RISING Dandenong soccer star Deni Kulas will represent Victoria for the second straight year at the national youth championships in Coffs Harbour from October 1-5.
Kulas made the under-13 side last year as a bottom-age player and has again made the state side.
Kulas, who plays in central or attacking midfield, said he couldn’t wait to test himself against the best under-age players in Australia once again.
“It feels good to represent your state,” he said. “Last year I played as a bottom-age player and it was really good, a good experience for me.”
Kulas is a Dandenong resident and Lyndale Secondary College student. He came to Australia as a two year old when his family moved to Melbourne from Bosnia. “We came here for a better life,” he said.
Kulas said his training regime was a heavy one in the lead-up to the championships, travelling across town to Darebin for training four nights a week.
He is also in the process of trying out for Southern Bluetongues, his zone side in the Victorian Champions League under-age competition which is played over summer.
Kulas, who started his playing career with Springvale White Eagles, is also a member of the Skilleroos program for talented under-age players. Kulas said he worked hard on his game so he could one day become a professional player.
“I want to become a soccer player and play for a big team.”
■ Dandenong Thunder will enter the Victorian Premier League finals this Friday night. The Thunder, which finished on top of the league, will play the winner of the major semi final between Oakleigh Cannons and Green Gully, which was played yesterday after the Weekly went to print.
The Thunder will host the match at George Andrews Reserve with the kick-off at 8.15pm. The winner will go into the grand final and the loser will be into the preliminary final.
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