Chris is at the Top of His Game

Chris is at the top of his game

His recent encounter with Scotland may have left him with an injury, but Chris Pyne still has a passion for football after ten years of playing at the international level.

After acquiring an acquired brain injury in an accident some years ago Chris turned his positive energies toward football.

As a member of the Australian National Paralympic Football Team, Chris returned home in August from the European Championships in Scotland with his fair share of bruises - and qualification for the World Championships in The Netherlands in November.
Australia currently ranked 10^th in the world will have to place 8^th at the World Championships to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympics. “This will be no easy task, but with the team we’ve got and with the Coaching staff we have we can do it.” said Chris
His matches against Scotland, England and Finland were hard fought, but Chris' team emerged successful leading them into the quarter finals.
"I copped a battering all week from the opposing backs ," said the 22-year-old.
"It is full-on. I didn’t back down – it's like football you just keep giving and giving""This is the cream of Paralympic Football," said Chris.
Under the tutelage of Head Coach Paul Brown, Chris said the team has come a long way. “Paul has worked wonders with us” said Chris. “The culture and the standards within the team are very high. He raises the bar continually, which helps us to improve all the time.”
"Throughout the tournament ... we went into every game with a plan and a strategy to play good football and the results would come from that," said Chris.
"Matches are played with the same intensity as any other form of football ... I've had the good fortune of going on a few of these tournaments over the past eight years, and I love it, " said Chris.
"I hate to use a cliché, but it's a very special time when you put on that Australian jersey and go out and stand with your mates as the national anthem plays."
The team recently qualified for next year's World Cup and their ultimate goal remains the 2010 London Paralympics 
If successful, the trip will be another notch on Chris' belt, having played at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics "It's been amazing," said Chris.
"In a way I've been a bit fortunate, but then again, you earn your place. I've worked very hard