Tuesday, 10 February 2009 10:41
Australian international goalkeepers Tony Franken and Tommy Maras will be the stars at the Dunsborough Towners annual penalty shootout competition kicking off at midday at the Bootleg Brewery on Saturday February 21.
Both Franken and Maras readily jumped at the chance to be involved in the competition following up on their first appearance in the event two years ago that attracted a big crowd at Bootleg.
On that occasion it was Busselton’s deadly striker Robbie Seia that won in the final shootout against Dunsborough’s Martyn Mulley.
The Towners are lucky to have secured the services of Franken who is the current Socceroos goalkeeping coach and who has been travelling with the Australian squad to Japan where the national team was involved in the latest Asian World Cup qualifying match that will help determine the make-up of Asia’s contestants in the 2010 World Cup.
Franken appeared 28 times in Australian colours at senior level (1984-92) while he was a member of the country’s under 20 and Under 23 squads in 1983 and 84 respectively. In addition he played in the National League for various club, including WA’s Glory from 1984 to 2000 and was a member of the Glory side that won the title in 2000.
Maras played 21 times for WA has five Premier League medallions with Perth Italia to his name and enjoyed international status playing with clubs in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. He was the first choice goalkeeper for Perth Glory when they entered the National League in 1996.
Both will provide a golden opportunity for local coaches and juniors to gain valuable knowledge in the art of goalkeeping when they hold a coaching clinic on the Dunsborough Fields at 9am on the Saturday morning of the competition.
Click Here: Photos from 2008 Bootleg Brewery Penalty Shootout
