Two Australians of Greek heritage named on CommBank Pararoos squad

·

Two Greek Australians from Football Victoria have been listed in the CommBank Pararoos Squad for a Sydney training camp ahead of the IFCPF World Cup.

The players, Christian Bitsikas and Christian Tsangas, will join a 24-player squad in their first training camp of the year.

Christian Bitsikas
Christian Bitsikas. Photo: Victorian Paralympic Football Program/ Ann Odong.

The training camp will be held on Friday, March 1, at Valentine Sports Park in Sydney, and run across three intensive days. This will prepare the team for the IFCPF World Cup, Spain in November. 

Thirteen members of the squad possess two or fewer caps for the CommBank Pararoos, with ten players yet to make their debut, heralding the dawn of a new era for the CommBank Pararoos program. The average age of the squad is just 20-years-old, reflecting the composition of the rejuvenated side. 

Christian Tsangas
Christian Tsangas. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images for Football Australia.

The larger than usual squad features eleven returning players from the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Men’s Championships (Para Asian Cup) in Melbourne where the CommBank Pararoos advanced to the final, creating an increased importance on claiming a place the team.  

Angus MacGregor (Football Victoria) will be back in action for the first time since 2019, adding depth and experience to the roster.

Additionally, newcomers Trey Hunter (Northern NSW Football), Sail Kozaroc (Football Queensland), and Sabian Panozzo (Football Victoria) will embark on their maiden CommBank Pararoos’ training camp with the aim of earning their first National Team call-up.  

CommBank Pararoos’ Head Coach Kai Lammert expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming camp, emphasising the opportunity for younger players to step into leadership roles and contribute to the team’s collective growth.

Kai Lammert
Kai Lammert is Head Coach. Photo: Xing.

“This camp marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards the IFCPF World Cup in Spain. We’re eager to see our players come together, forge bonds, and build on the success of recent years,” Lammert said.

“The squad comprises a diverse mix of talents and we believe in nurturing the potential of every individual. By empowering our younger players to take on leadership responsibilities, we’re building a culture of mentorship and growth within the team. It’s about instilling confidence and resilience in our players, ensuring that each one feels valued and capable of contributing to our future success.

“This camp isn’t just about preparing for a tournament, it’s about embarking on an adventure together. I have no doubt that as we come together and push our limits, we’ll not only improve as a squad but build an environment capable of producing great things.”

Pararoos squad list
The squad list.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

The man for all jobs: How a Greek migrant turned setbacks into 7-figure success

When Christof Mantzanas stepped off the plane in Melbourne on 10 March 2015, he had just $1,000 in his pocket.

Jimmy’s Kitchen brings authentic Greek hospitality to The Rocks

Sydney diners can now experience the warmth, flavour, and soul of a traditional Greek taverna without the flight to Greece.

Greek Community of Melbourne enhances safety with defibrillator training seminar

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organising a defibrillator training seminar.

Wills without the Trojan War

After nearly 15 years in the legal industry, I’ve lost track of how many matters I’ve worked on involving family disputes over estates.

From tech to health: Greek Australians driving innovation in 2025

Australia’s Top 100 Innovators celebrate those who turn setbacks into breakthroughs. This year, three Greek Australians are among them.

You May Also Like

Greek and Turkish defence ministers meet amid rising tension

Greece's Defence Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos met with Hulusi Akar on the sidelines of the NATO Defence Ministers Summit in Brussels.

I understand Greek but struggle to speak it – how can I overcome that barrier

Understanding but not speaking is a common experience of heritage language or background language communities. 

Maria Sakkari into Miami Open semi final after crushing Naomi Osaka

In just 1 hour and 9 minutes, Maria Sakkari, crushed her Japanese opponent, Naomi Osaka, 2-0 sets in the quarter final of the Miami Open.