Hard work and commitment is paying of for Bridgetown soccer youngster Tyson Paterson, who has been invited to attend an international soccer tournament in Thailand.
The 13 year old has been playing soccer since he was 6 years old, and is enjoying the journey that he hopes will one day lead him to play for Australia.
The December tournament is played at a sports and leisure centre in Phuket, Thailand where Tyson will experience a little taste of what it may be like as a professional footballer.
The training and commitment from Tyson and his family is intense with five trips to Bunbury each week and to Perth for extra training when required.
“I train in Bunbury to do lots of skills and on-field stuff, because I want to get better at that,” he said.
“When we go to Perth it is to do extra goalkeeper training, because I want to be the goalie for Australia one day.”
Dedicated mother Suzy Paterson said the South West Football Federation had been instrumental in giving Tyson the passion to commit himself to the game.
“They have been the stepping stone for Tyson and what he is doing with soccer,” Mrs Paterson said.
“It has given him a lot of confidence and the passion to keep going and aim high. It is going to be great to see what soccer is like overseas.”