Mariners defender Ruon Tongyik has been rewarded for his sublime season in Yellow & Navy with a call up for the Socceroos as they head off to World Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait.
The Socceroos will face Kuwait, Jordan, Nepal, and Chinese Taipei in Group B during their time in Kuwait, and Tongyik will be in line to make his inaugural National Team appearance in the backline.
Australia currently top Group B of Asian qualifying, having secured four wins from as many games in September, October, and November 2019, before Asia’s qualifying cycle was paused due to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
24-year-old Tongyik moved to Australia when he was just six, and is excited to be given the chance to represent the country he now calls home.
“It’s a privilege to be called up to represent Australia, it’s something I have always wanted to accomplish,” he said on Tuesday.
“Just to be selected, I am very honoured and very proud.”
?️"It’s the best my body’s ever felt, and I am really enjoying my football at the moment with a great bunch of boys." #CCMFC #WontBackDown #BRIvCCM
More from Ruon ?? https://t.co/bqZKByn1HW pic.twitter.com/9Q8j3yAhTa— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) May 12, 2021
“Australia welcomed me and my family with open arms, and the opportunity I have been given to play professional football and now to represent, I can only give back to the country that has given me basically everything.”
“I think being amongst the best of the best in Australia is very exciting, and I want to learn from everybody.
“I have obviously seen Australian games and the names that are included and I’m excited to be in the mix with them and I think I’ll learn so much from them.”
The dominant centre-back will miss the remainder of the Mariners regular season matches after Macarthur while he is away in Kuwait, but Mariners Head Coach Alen Stajcic was full of praise for Tongyik and proud to see him selected.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for Ruon and well deserved after the season that he’s had,” Stajcic said.
“It’s a sign of where we are building back to. Ruon will be our first Mariner to play for the Socceroos while at the Club since Mitchell Duke, we have boys like Kye and Gianni in the mix for the Olympics and have had two European transfers in the last two years.”
“It’s an exciting time for this club at the moment and we wish Ruon all the best during his time away.”
Match Schedule
Match 1: Australia v Kuwait
Date: Thursday, 3 June 2021
Venue: Jaber Al-Hamed Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Kick-off: 9:30pm (local) – 4:30am Friday, 4 June 2021 AEST
Broadcast: Live on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports, ABC TV, and My Football Live App
Match 2: Australia v Chinese Taipei
Date: Monday, 7 June 2021
Venue: Jaber Al-Hamed Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Kick-off: 7:30pm (local) – 2:30am Tuesday, 8 June 2021 AEST
Broadcast: Live on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports, ABC TV, and My Football Live App
Match 3: Nepal v Australia
Date: Friday, 11 June 2021
Venue: Kuwait SC Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Kick-off: 7:30pm (local) – 2:30am Saturday, 12 June 2021 AEST
Broadcast: Live on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports, SBS TV, and My Football Live App
Match 4: Australia v Jordan
Date: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Venue: Kuwait SC Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Kick-off: 9:30pm (local) – 4:30am Wednesday, 16 June 2021 AEST
Broadcast: Live on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports, ABC TV, and My Football Live App
