Shepparton knows Goulburn Valley Suns breed raw talent like no other.
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But now the football factory is being lauded by the nation’s elite.
The recent departure of 16-year-old Garang Kuol to the Central Coast academy, where he’ll link up with big brother Alou, has brought about waves of praise for the Suns from Mariners youth coach Nick Montgomery.
“Massive credit to the GV Suns, the club and, obviously, coach Craig Carley. No doubt he is driving the players there and showing them there is opportunity to come into an NPL team no matter what league they’re in,” Montgomery said.
“(By) playing senior football, these kids are getting the opportunity to play against men.
“Huge credit must go to the club for having a philosophy for playing young players, and that is one thing we have here at the Mariners.
“We are really showing we do believe in the kids in the academy and that we are a club where there is a pathway to progress into professional football.”
Professional football is a cut-throat industry, with openings few and far between for any prospect.
Howerver, at the Mariners an onus has been placed on providing young talent a fighting chance at breaking onto the scene early.
As it happens, Montgomery is at the heart of the operation.
During his playing days Montgomery turned out for English club Sheffield United on 399 occasions, many of which came in Premier League.
He knows a handy player when he sees one — and the latest to grace his radar is none other than Garang.
“Pretty early on it was clear to see he was technically very good, but he’s also a very different player to his brother,” Montgomery said.
“In terms of an attacking sense, he brings that little bit of X-factor in the attacking third; he can take players on, drift in and out and can use both feet.
“He is very raw, but the quality is there for him to become a good player with hard work.
“For me, it is a pedigree in terms of his brother Alou, we can see athletically he still has a lot of growing to do, but as a 16-year-old it is clear he has a lot of potential and that is why we want to bring him in.”
There’s no argument Alou paved the way for his younger brother.
Montgomery, who helped ready the breakaway A-League star for the big stage, knows what to expect from Garang after seeing Alou smash home goals like nobody’s business for the Mariners’ academy.
“Alou is a big and loud character,” Montgomery said.
“But it took Alou a while to adjust when he came in, he was very raw and it took him quite a while to get used to the intensity we play here, the elite level here in Australia.
“He has the raw ingredients to make a top player and I think he still has a long way to go with his development.”
Now seeing the 19-year-old flourish, Montgomery wasted no time endorsing the groundwork laid at the Suns.
“When (players) come into the first team, people don’t understand the work that has gone on beneath the surface and that all started at the GV Suns with Alou,” he said.
“It is exciting times here, but great for the GV Suns that they are producing players that have gone on to play in the A-League.”
Alou typifies what the Suns’ model strives to achieve.
And, while only in its seventh year, the club’s development powers seem to be at a zenith currently.
Sandwiched between Garang and Alou is Teng Kuol, who has recently trialled at A-League newcomer Western United.
Other noteworthy products to graduate from the Suns’ youth set-up are James Niewenhuizen — who trains with Melbourne City’s first team — and Gianluca Iannucci at Melbourne Victory.
That’s to name a few.
The astounding success rate of budding youngsters leaving going on to make a name for themselves is only being lifted with Garang’s departure for Gosford.
“We saw (Garang) has massive potential, so hopefully we can bring him into this environment and nurture him to get the best out of him,” Montgomery said.
“The future is bright and as a pathway for young players, that is one thing we’re working really hard to provide.
“Ultimately it is down to the player. Can they cope with the pressure; can they cope with expectations?”
Using Alou as a yardstick, it’s safe to say the future bodes well for his little brother.
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