A group of Moree junior soccer players took on the world at the Inverell Sporting Complex last weekend in the Rale Rasic Joeys Mini World Cup, and returned home laden with trophies, new friendships and memories that will last forever.

Sarsha Maas, Aiynzlee Magarry, Anabelle Honour, Lucy-Grace Ryan, Jazmine Magarry and Emma Chick joined four players from Coffs Harbour to be crowned girls under-15s champions.

Brothers Aden and Liam Bridge, now with Narrabri Namoi United, and PJ Ryan, Josh Rigby, Rayma Honour and Dom Miller brought home the under-17s trophy as part of a team comprising players from Moree, Narrabri, Inverell, Bundaberg and Lismore.

Pivotal player Sarsha Maas was selected to play in Germany in 2026 – her second trip to Europe after touring earlier this year.

Team-mates Shiori Hallam, Evie Gibson and Gemma Ray, all from Coffs Harbour, will join Sarsha in Germany.

Amelia Maas – Sarsha’s sister – and Dakota Bateman were part of the winning open women’s team. Patrick Maas – Amelia and Sarsha’s brother – played in the under-14s squad with Nathan Ryan, Levi Nolan, Jack Chick, Jesse Rigby and Riley Jackson.

The combined Moree-Coffs girls team, coached by Craig Gibson from Coffs Harbour and managed by Moree’s Danny Cheetham, played as “Australia” in the Mini World Cup.

The girls were clear winners against England, Brazil and the United States.

Cheetham, who has effortlessly made the transition from boxing coach to soccer team manager, said the Moree-Coffs girls played teams from Inverell, Tamworth and the Joey’s All-Stars.

“All the teams played each other twice, over three days,” Danny said.

“Whoever finishes on top is allocated the winner – there’s no actual grand-final. If two teams finish even, they go to goals for-and-against, but we were clear winners,” he smiled.

“The girls put in resounding performances in all games, and gained so much experience playing alongside the more experienced Coffs girls.

“They now know they can compete at this level, particularly against towns like Tamworth and Inverell, which are known soccer towns.

Cheetham assisted coach Craig Gibson, a former president of Coff Harbour Soccer Club.

“Craig has opened a lot of doors for our girls,” Danny said.

“He’s very impressed with how much our girls love soccer, and because of his knowledge, he’s helping me develop our players.”

For Sarsha Maas, her exceptional skills again gained selection to tour Germany next year.

She said she was really pleased with how she played at the carnival, which drew hundreds of emerging soccer stars from across the eastern seaboard.

“It was made easier by being in a fantastic team, which included five girls from Moree and four from Coffs Harbour,” Sarsha said.

Her mum, Katrina, said last week’s Mini World Cup was Sarsha’s second appearance at the carnival and second time being selected to tour Germany for a second time.

“She has put in lots of effort and really utilised what she learned from her trip to Germany in June and July this year,” Katrina said.

“Sarsha was excited to catch up with some of the girls and boys who travelled with her this year as well as one of her coaches from Germany.

“She’s really proud, but very surprised, to be selected again and grateful for the opportunity to play and be accepted in the team for Germany,” she said.

Aden and Liam Bridge shone for the under-17s All-Stars, with the brothers joining players from Moree, Narrabri, Inverell, Bundaberg and Lismore.

Their dad, Adam Bridge, said skill levels from all players at this year’s tournament were “next level”.

“The boys had their work cut out from the start, but they gelled really well and the end results show that – the boys put in 200 per cent every game,” Adam said.

“Unfortunately, none of the Moree boys were selected this year to go to Germany, even after an amazing tournament.

“But we will be at Inverell bigger and stronger next year, and hopefully can manage to take a full team from Moree and Namoi.

“Aden and Liam love the tournament and recommend it to everyone. Even if you don’t get selected the first year, that only makes you hungry for it next year.

“And a big congratulations to Sarsha Maas, who was selected to go again in 2026. This young girl has come a long way, and should be really proud of her achievements,” Adam said.

Danny Cheetham, a former Golden Gloves champion, is best-known for training elite boxers the likes of Cameron Hammond and Tony Hall.

He said the shift from boxing ring to soccer field was brought on by family.

“I’m only in my second year helping develop these young soccer players through the love of my grandchildren,” Danny said.

“As a boxing coach, I was able to negotiate the pathways for people like Cameron Hammond and other boxers.

“Now I’m learning the pathways of soccer, and I’m learning so much from coach Craig Gibson just by being around him. He’s passing a lot of his knowledge onto me,” he said.

Cheetham said Gibson was instrumental in opening opportunities for all junior players.

“My grand-daughter, Aiynzlee, went to a training camp three weeks ago at the Southport School at the Gold Coast, run by English Premier League Club West Ham United, and that was offered to us through Craig,” Danny said.

“West Ham brought over six coaches and did some tremendous work with our girls and started a pathway for them to continue to work through West Ham to be developed – all because of Craig.

“We also have some very good soccer people in Moree, such as Kevin Rigby and Katrina Maas. “They’re helping develop their children as well, and we’re all working together to increase the standard of soccer in Moree,” he said.

“We had a wonderful weekend, not only as a team, but as families. We all camped together at the showground, which was right next to facility. It was a tremendous atmosphere.”

Cheetham joked the crossover from boxing to soccer has been seamless.

“I told the players to keep their right hand up and to work off the jab,” he laughed.

Words: Bill Poulos