Darwin teenager Mark O’Connor set to represent Australia in FIFA under-15 World Cup

Long before Mark O’Connor ever thought about donning the green-and-gold jersey, there was football in the streets of Darwin.

Back then, the now 15-year-old was just like any other kid playing kickabouts with his mates when his father signed him up to a local club.

He could not have imagined it would be the first step towards representing his country.

Mark has since played for local clubs Greater Palmerston United (GPU), Mindil Aces and Darwin Olympic and now is preparing to join Australia’s U-15 FIFA World Cup squad in Baku, Azerbaijan next month.

“I’d say [I was] almost in shock, in disbelief, because I didn’t expect any of this to happen,” he says.

For a Northern Territory teenager who never thought standing on the world stage was something that happened to kids from the Top End, the moment means everything.

“Ever since I was playing from a young age, this is the type of thing that I’d want to be selected for,” he says.

Raw Territory talent

Mark’s success was built through Darwin’s footballing community, with different clubs playing a crucial role in his development.

Darwin Olympic president Yianni Prouzos says Mark’s selection is also recognition of the region’s talent.

“Mark started off as a GPU player, then he had a few years at Mindil Aces, and he spent a fair bit of time at Darwin Olympic,” he says.

“For the size of the population, I believe there is a lot of raw talent in the Northern Territory.”

Even so, Mr Prouzos says Mark stood out, and he still remembers the first time he saw the marauding midfielder whose inspiration is Premier League giant, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, play the game.

“Very small body, a lot of people target him, [but] he gets up.

“His determination, he keeps on coming back and back.”

The underdog

Mark says playing football in the tropics, where travelling down south for tournaments often means arriving as the underdog, prepared him for the challenge ahead of facing some of the best young footballers in the world.

“The NT would never really, I’d say, do very well down south, so being the underdog a lot was quite challenging,” he said.

“I can see the levels that they’re at and see how I compare to them as well.”

Darwin Olympic teammate Anthony Reichstein says Mark’s selection gives other Territory players something to aspire to.

“I think it gives a lot of the boys and girls up here a chance to make it now because they’re clearly looking at Darwin now and it gives everyone a lot of hope,” he says.

Beyond Darwin

Football Australia selected players from all nine of its member federations, with young footballers from metropolitan and regional areas earning a place in the national squad.

Talent identification lead Michael Cooper says that representation is particularly important for regional players.

“When you’re in these regional areas, you do need that role model,” he said.

“You do need to know that pathway is alive for you.”

For Mark, the message is one he knows from experience.

“I started out at the same level as everyone else, playing for the same clubs in the NT,” he said.

“And you can really make it to any level you want through enough hard work and dedication.”