Tyler McLennan's dream has always been to take his soccer skills to the international stage.
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That dream is now about to become true
McLennan, 16, has been selected to represent Australia at the 2019 Singa Cup.
"It has always been the main dream of mine and now that it's happening it's the best thing ever," McLennan said.
The Epsom FC player has been involved with the club since first taking up the sport as a 4-year-old and hasn't looked back since.
"Over the years I've enjoyed it more and more," he said.
"All of the coaches have helped and molded me into the player I am today."
Epsom FC technical director Peter Raeburn said McLennan displayed talent that was worthy of competing in international tournaments.
"Tyler can bend the ball, is a great shot taker. His skills are quite progressive in those areas," Raeburn said.
"The more he develops the harder the sport becomes, which means the more he reacts to the challenges and becomes a better player.
"During the past two years he has improved immensely. It's not often you have left footers that can do the things Tyler does."
McLennan will travel to the 2019 Singa Cup at the end of October to represent Australia, on a team that includes players from Melbourne metropolitan clubs.
The Cup was first held in 2011 and grows each year in popularity.
The tournament acts as a platform to showcase some of Asia and the surrounding region's best "raw gems", with the players given the ability to challenge themselves against some of the world's best.
The trip to Singapore will be McLennan's first ever trip abroad and also the biggest competition he has ever competed in.
The high humidity of Singapore, a city-country that is a stone's throw from the equator, will be a vast difference to the climate of Bendigo, but it's not something he is concerned about.
The opportunity only motivates him further to succeed.
"Wherever I play, preparation is always a big thing for me," McLennan said.
"I always try and get the best out of myself and I'm always looking at what I can improve after I reflect on my own performances during games."
McLennan's drive to succeed is undying, you will find him down on Epsom's soccer pitch four nights a week hard at work.
Whether he is training for himself, or coaching his under-14 team which he recently led to championship glory, soccer is in his blood.
In an effort to get McLennan to Singapore, a GoFundMe page has been setup to raise funds for the trip.
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