And his coach in the under 13 Northern Inland Football (NIF) said Kowalski was a good shot to have his cake and eat it too after another string of standout performances last week.

“I’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t make the team,” coach Howard Stubbs said. 

“He scores one or two goals most games, he’s quick and he strikes the ball well.” 

Kowalski played the final in a string of state identification games last week when he represented NIF at the Telstra Youth Challenge at Speers Point. 

The team played outstanding football to make the final, with most of the opposition being National Premier Leagues (NPL) teams, coach Stubbs said. 

On the first day of the competition, on Tuesday, NIF downed North Coast 4-1 and Lake Macquarie 2-1. 

The following day they put four unanswered goals past Adamstown Rosebud FC. 

That meant the boys only needed a draw against Edgeworth FC to make the finals. 

Kowalski scored three goals in the tournament and made two assists, but the final whistle in the crucial 0-0 draw to Edgeworth was the highlight – though one he heard about from afar.

“I was in the strapping shed having my shoulder looked at after I took a fall on to the astroturf,” he said. “I could hear everyone cheering outside.”

Kowalski bounced back but NIF didn’t – they lost 7-0 to Mid North Coast in the final. 

“It was a hammering,” said Stubbs. 

“But it was at the end of a long three days and they were a very classy outfit. 

“Overall it was a tremendous performance against NPL teams who play together every week.

“I couldn’t have been happier with the performances.”

Stubbs said Kowalski was once again one of the side’s best and that scouts from the Newcastle’s Emerging Jets 

were impressed. 

The under 13 NIF squad will be back in action next month with a gala day in Coffs Harbour. 

By that point, if all goes according to plan, Kowalski will have a blue jersey in his kit bag.