On Tuesday morning Shepparton soccer sensation Garang Kuol received the message billions of kids around the world dream of one day getting.
“You’re going to the FIFA World Cup.”
For Kuol, 18, selection in the 26-man Socceroos squad for the upcoming international football showcase in Qatar served as the pinnacle to what has been an incredible rise to fame.
Strutting his stuff for NPL side Goulburn Valley Suns two years ago, he followed in the footsteps of older brother Alou in 2021, signing with A-League club Central Coast Mariners Academy in 2021.
Showcasing his immense potential, a talented, but raw Kuol was bumped up into the senior side in December 2021, making his debut in a FFA Cup match and scoring seven minutes after entering the game.
From that moment on a star was born, and during the past 11 months he has flourished into arguably Australia’s brightest young talent, scoring four goals from 12 professional appearances, signing a contract with English football juggernaut Newcastle United and becoming the second person from Shepparton to pull on a Socceroos jersey.
The first player from Shepparton to don the Socceroos kit was ex-Shepparton United player Robbie Enes, who was capped seven times for the national team as well as representing Australia at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
A young man who takes all the accolades in his stride, Kuol on Wednesday told of his reaction to finding out he would be taking his talents to the FIFA World Cup.
“I was just at home (when I heard the news), it was first thing in the morning when I got the message,” Kuol said.
“I had my family around me and it was unreal to be able to share the moment with them, there was so much noise from everybody, I had Alou on the phone as well and he just kept yelling ‘Garang Kuol is going to the World Cup!’.
“It was a very exciting moment.”
Since departing Shepparton to take up an opportunity with the Mariners, he said his mindset had just been to perform on the pitch and could not have spoken more highly of the impact the club has had on his development.
“I’ve just got to perform on the field, go out there and do my best for the Mariners and that’s what’s been happening,” he said.
“It comes with the help of my teammates and the club, the Mariners brought me in last year when I was just a young boy and have helped me develop a lot over the last few years.
“They have been massive for my development in terms of what I do on the pitch and getting me to this point.”
On the pitch Kuol is as box office as they come.
Blessed with incredible speed and silky skills, he mixes those God-given talents with a fearless attitude to terrorise opposition defenders.
So when it comes to the World Cup stage, Kuol said he was confident he would rise to the occasion.
“Of course (I’m going to take that fearless attitude), on the pitch you always want to try and create something,” he said.
“To go on the field with some of the best players in the world it is going to be such an unreal experience, I am keen to see the difference between them.
“For me I think about it a bit (the big stage), but it’s more like I just cannot wait to go there and play, it’s excitement for me more than nerves.”
As for his thoughts on Australia’s chances in Qatar, Kuol said he had confidence the talent in the squad could cause some problems for some of the world’s top teams.
“I think on the day anything can happen, any team has a chance to win, so the boys just need to play well,” he said.
“There is a lot of quality up front in our squad, from Martin Boyle to Awer Mabil, they are at the top level, so I think Australian fans can be very excited for what we can achieve.”
Australia begins its World Cup campaign against France at 6am on Wednesday, November 23.