Due to the nearby Ukraine crisis, the Padstow Heights resident, along with the squad, was unable to travel to Georgia but had a training camp for eight days and two days of games within the Maltese club.
The De La Salle Revesby High School Year 10 student who is a member of the NSW Talent Support Program and played for Padstow United and Bankstown United as a Junior, is presently playing in the NPL for Rockdale Ilinden FC.
He was incredibly excited to take part in his first international soccer adventure with Dad Joshua.
“It was a massive honour to be able to represent Malta at youth level,” he said.
“The facilities have been absolutely amazing and the staff at the Maltese Football Association (MFA) have looked after me every step of the way.”
Joshua said that Jackson had been on the MFA and FIFA radar for a couple of years since he had dual citizenship, with his grandmother having been born in Malta.
“Covid slowed things down but now we are excited about what’s to come, with Jackson hoping he’ll be invited back to Malta later in the year,” Joshua said.
“I’ve told him that so long as he keeps giving his football 100 per cent and putting in the hard work, anything is possible.”
Young soccer talent kicks goal in Europe
WITH a huge desire to play for the world’s best soccer teams, Jackson Barrett, 15, has taken his first step into Europe after being invited to represent Malta earlier this month in their U16s national team for two friendly games against Georgia.