Michael Maniti
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael James Mariona Maniti[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 September 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Prairiewood, Australia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | [[Blacktown City FC]] | ||
| Number | 53 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cecil Hills High School & Westfields Sports HS | |||
| 2017–2021 | Mt Druitt Town Rangers | ||
| 2021–2023 | Blacktown Spartans | ||
| 2023–2024 2025- now | SD Raiders Blacktown City FC | ||
| International career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Philippines U17 | 7 | (0) |
Michael James Mariona Maniti (born 5 September 2008) is a footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for the youth team of National Premier Leagues NSW Men's side SD Raiders. Born in Australia, he is of Filipino-Salvadoran heritage and currently represents the Philippines under-17 national team.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Maniti was born in Prairiewood in New South Wales, Australia. He was born to Filipino and Salvadoran parents, with his father hailing from San Fernando, Pampanga.[2] He is the youngest of four siblings, with his brother Jacob and sister Chantelle having previously represented the Philippines at the international level.[3]
Career
[edit]Football
[edit]Maniti grew up in Western Sydney, Australia. He played youth football for Cecil Hills High School[4] as well as for various clubs in the area.
From 2017 to 2021 he played for the youth team of the then-named Mt Druitt Town Rangers, and after the COVID-19 pandemic played two seasons for the youth team of Blacktown Spartans.[5] He made 16 appearances in the 2021 season.[6] In 2023, he was added to the U15 team of SD Raiders. He is currently in 2026 the current captain for the National Premier League 1-Under 18s Men’s team for BlacktownCity FC in the Football NSW competition . Michael has been pivotal in guiding his team to a Premiership winning team in 2026 with one round to go- out of 30 rounds . And is part of the u19s Nationals Philippines Football Team Pool called up to train in training Camp in Manila Philippines that competed in AFF U19s Men’s Team in Indonesia June’ 2026.
Futsal
[edit]Aside from football, Maniti also played represented his state in futsal, playing in the 2024 National Futsal Championships[7] where his team reached the semifinals of the U15 category. And in 2025 Michael represented the NSW team and making the grand final in U16s Men’s division. The year later in 2026 Michael Maniti alongside teammate Spencer Webster winning the Futsal National of Football Australia-in the Youth Men’s Division.[8]
Athletics
[edit]Maniti also competed in athletics, particularly cross country running. In 2023, he participated in the Sydney South West Cross Country Carnival.[9]
International career
[edit]Philippines U17
[edit]Born to Filipino and Salvadoran parents, Maniti is eligible to represent either country at the international level. His brother, Jacob, played matches for the Philippines U23 team while his sister, Chantelle, has represented the Philippine women's senior team.
In 2024, Maniti was called up to the Philippine under-16 national team to compete in the ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship in Indonesia.[10][11] He made his debut on the opening matchday against Laos.[12] Alongside fellow Filipino-Australian teammates Anthony Moutzouris and Spencer Webster, He was called up once more to the under-17 team for the qualifiers of the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup,[13] playing all four group games, including a 7–0 win over Macau.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Michael Maniti - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Calvert, Violi (15 April 2022). "Focus: Filipinas' Only Fil-Aussie Player, Chantelle Maniti". The Lakambini. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Cabatbat, Erel (17 November 2022). "May listahan na: Players invited to national training pool named". Manila Standard. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Cecil's sporting stars". Cecil Hills High School Newsletter. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Players". Blacktown Spartans FC. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Player Profile - Michael Maniti". Blacktown Spartans FC. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "2024 NATIONAL FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS" (PDF). National Futsal Championships. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Elkerton, Matthew (4 January 2025). "National Futsal Championships roll call: Every player named to compete in Victoria". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Sydney South West Cross Country Carnival (2023)". Sydney South West School Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "PH U16 MNT to compete in the ASEAN U16 Boys' Championship in Indonesia". Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Servinio, Anthony (21 June 2024). "PH Football U16 sisipa sa Boy's C'ship sa Indonesia". Bulgar Online. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "PH U16 MNT falls short vs Laos at 2024 ASEAN opener". Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Martinez, Maridel (6 December 2024). "Pinoy Aussie teenager reps Philippine Soccer Team at the Asian Cup Qualifiers". SBS Filipino. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Qualifiers - Group B: Macau 0-7 Philippines; Cambodia 1-0 Bangladesh". Asian Football Confederation. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- 2008 births
- Living people
- Soccer players from New South Wales
- Australian people of Filipino descent
- Sportspeople of Filipino descent
- Australian people of Salvadoran descent
- Sportspeople of Salvadoran descent
- Filipino people of Salvadoran descent
- Australian men's soccer players
- Filipino men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Philippines men's youth international footballers
- 21st-century Australian sportsmen
- 21st-century Filipino sportsmen