Australia's national 7-a-side football team has made inroads in their quest to qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, but coaches continue to be on the lookout for emerging talent.
Football NSW has hosted the national championships in Western Sydney, bringing together teams from around the country.
Evan Moorby from the ACT has Cerebral Palsy but still matches it with able-bodied players when he plays in mainstream competitions.
"One day I want to represent my country. We train once a week, but when we're not training, I'm doing stuff at home. Working hard," he told SBS News.
7-a-side football is a modified version of soccer played by people with Cerebral Palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms resulting from a stroke.
Each team consists of seven players and a goal keeper, and matches are played over two 30 minute halves.
Cosimo Cirillo, who also has Cerebral Palsy, represented Australia on two international tours and wants to be in the starting lineup more regularly.
"It's always a great experience to be involved with the best in Australia. For myself, [my goal is] to get fitter, faster and stronger," he said.
Living in Mildura, Victoria, means Cirillo and his parents drive up to seven hours to Melbourne multiple times a month for training.
Paralympic sports such as 7-a-side football often struggle with recognition, even among the disability community, meaning tournaments such as the National Championships also doubles to promote growth at the grass roots level.
Australia head coach Kai Lammert was at the event and spoke highly of the skills he had seen.
"The talent on display amazes me every year. Young children, boys and girls, with Cerebral Palsy or acquired brain injury... can strive to wear the national jersey and I think there's nothing bigger than that," he told SBS News.
Fresh off a 10th-place finish at September's World Championships in Argentina, the Pararoos are confident they can show further improvement at the Asian Cup in Iran next November.
The tournament serves as a qualifying event for the World Cup in 2019 in Madrid where the Pararoos must move into the World's top eight to be eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
"We never stop playing, continuously give it 100 per cent and put a lot of pride when they've got the shirt on."
