ABU DHABI // Having spent the summer watching on television as Australia performed beyond expectation at the Fifa World Cup, Bernie Ibini is intent on creating his own memories with the national team.
The Sydney FC forward, on loan from China’s Shanghai Dongya, is in Abu Dhabi with Ange Postecoglou’s squad after receiving his maiden call-up.
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Ibini, 22, is the only uncapped player in the 23-man party for friendlies against the UAE and Qatar, starting on Friday, although he hopes to put that right during the next week. With the Asian Cup in his homeland in January, Ibini’s goals are pretty clear.
“I’m trying to get a cap and just to gain as much experience from this as I can,” he said. “To be in the national set-up is a great honour.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to do very well and continue in the squad from here on out because I want to become a consistent squad member. I need to build on this and see where I go from here.”
The transition has been made easier by his teammates, some Ibini knows well from contesting the Australian A-League.
He said his inclusion had come as a shock, but now that it has finally sunk in, his sights are set on helping his country achieve success on home soil next year.
“I watched the World Cup at home and quickly realised it was something I want to be involved in,” Ibini said. “The confidence within the national team has increased since, so we need to build on that and get the results.
“There’ll definitely be a lot of pressure on the team for the Asian Cup but, as we’ve seen, the boys can handle it. We’ll definitely be very competitive. I’m sure we’ll be trying to win it.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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