After impressing selectors at the Opens All Schools National Championships earlier this month, Dubbo Senior Campus soccer star Nathan Kenyon has been selected in the Australian side that will tour Japan in December.

Aged just 16, Nathan will still qualify for selection again next year, which spells a bright future for the Orana Spurs goalkeeper.

He represented NSW All Schools at the national titles in Port Macquarie last month, with NSW winning the tournament.

Nathan’s NSW team finished the round robin carnival on 13 points, followed by QLD on 10, South Australia 6, Victoria 5, ACT 4 and Western Australia 3.

Nathan was originally announced as a shadow player for the All Schools tour of Japan but the call for confirmed selection was a deserved one.

“Our New South Wales side went really well at Nationals, we were undefeated right up until the last day when we narrowly went down to Victoria,” Nathan said.

“I was really surprised to have been named as a shadow, I really wasn’t expecting it at all, then to get the call for the tour was great.”

With another crack at selections next year, Nathan said he hopes 2009 will be another good year.

As well as his representative commitments, Nathan also plays for local club Orana Spurs and State League side, the Western Panthers based in Bathurst.

During this season Nathan has represented the Panthers every Saturday before backing up to play all three grades for Spurs on Sundays.

Orana Spurs coach Albi Mastellotto has had a lot to do with Nathan’s development over the past few years and believes the youngster deserves everything he gets.

“I can’t remember the last time someone from this area was selected in an Australian side,” Mastellotto said.

“I think it’s just terrific, not only is he an amazing soccer player but a wonderful young man, he is a testament to his parents and his upbringing.

“If an A-League side doesn’t pick him up in the future then there is something terribly wrong.”

While Nathan’s future in the sport already looks bright, the Year 11 student said he does have ambitions of one day playing in the A-League for Sydney FC.