Late on Saturday night, a tired but happy group of Futsal players from the Solomon Islands trudged into the Dural Sport and Leisure Centre after a long journey from Honiara.

This is another stage of a project that started back in 2001 when the Dural Sport and Leisure Centre and the Dural Baptist Church sent a team of Futsal coaches and players to help introduce, in a formal way, the sport to that country. A country torn apart by ethnic tension and armed conflict. A country in need of restoration in all aspect of human life: physical, emotional, relational and spiritual. The sport of Futsal was used to bring people together and help, in some way, in the unification and reconciliation process.

All the squad is looking forward to some tough training sessions and 3 highly competitive games that will help round off their preparations for the World Cup qualifying tournament in Suva in 2 weeks time.

The game on Sunday 25th against the Dural Men’s team ended in a very close 7 – 4 victory to the visitors. It was a game played in great spirit, with end to end action and some great goals, which kept a noisy crowd of over 100 people thoroughly entertained.

Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th will see the Solomons up against Northern Beaches and Sydney Magic respectively. All games are being played at Dural commencing at 7.30pm.The team will be training every other night before leaving again next Saturday 31st May for a quick stop in Solomon Islands then on to Fiji for the tournament commencing Sunday 8th June. While here in Sydney the team will also take the opportunity to visit William Clarke College, which was home to team members Jack Whetney and Elliot Ragomo during their scholarship program.

The team is largely unchanged to the one that performed so well in the Australian National Championships in January reaching the semi finals. Two players from that January squad have been omitted in the selection process and five new faces added for the trip to Sydney. As a result of these trial games and training on the full size court a further two players will be omitted from the squad for Fiji.

Come along and show your support for some great friends as we wish them all the best in their quest to reach the Futsal World Cup to be held in Brazil in October this year.

Source : The Futsal Spy

REWA striker Kamal Hassan is top choice to spearhead Fiji’s attack at the Oceania Football Federation FUTSAL Championships in Suva next month.

The tournament will be held from June 8-14 at the Vodafone Arena and the national side will be out to utilise the home advantage to qualify for the World Cup.

Apart from Hassan, Labasa’s Dinesh Mudaliar, Sandip Nair, Intiaz Begg and his goalkeeper brother Azmat Begg are front runners for the 12-strong squad to be named today.

Lautoka duo, Alvin Avinesh and Avindra Naidu have shown consistent form.

A number of 11-a-side players are in contention are Mira Sahib, Asish Chand and Siga Ali.

The side will be coached by former rep Intiaz Khan who is confident of a good outing. Khan, who played for the Fiji in tyen shortened code said the preparations were going well.

“We have plans and the team will get together when the Fiji FACT ends,” Khan said.

The OFC Championship is held every four years with the winner progressing to the FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be held in Brazil this September.

2008 marks the first championship since Australia switched confederations from OFC to Asia.

Australia has won the last four OFC FUTSAL Championships spanning back to 1992 and their absence will provide an opportunity for other OFC nations to attend their first FIFA FUTSAL World Cup.

Source : The Fiji Times
By : Indra Singh
Published : 23/5/2008

The New Zealand national futsal team, the Futsallwhites, have appointed Erkin Osman as it’s coach for the upcoming OFC Championship which kicks-off in Suva, Fiji on 8th June.Cypriot-born Osman comes highly recommended and replaces Brod Crighton. Osman has an impressive CV as player and coach which includes the only player to make four World Cup appearances for Australia in Futsal and coaching Socceroo and Everton star, Tim Cahill as a junior.

The 12 man squad includes four from the previous campaign in 2004 in which NZ finished runners-up to Australia. Australia are this year competing in the Asian Championship and NZ futsal are hoping that their absense will open the door for NZ to represent OFC at the World Cup later this year in Brasil.

Auckland club, East City provides the bulk of the squad with eight players with one from Waikato, two from Capital Futsal in Wellington and one from Brisbane.

Osman will get a good look at the squad this weekend (31st of May 2008) when they meet in Auckland.

About New Zealand Futsal

New Zealand Futsal is appointed by New Zealand Football to be responsible for all Futsal activities throughout the New Zealand. It’s initial focus has been on training and submitting a representative team to OFC Championship.

Source : Oceania Football Confederation
Published : 26/5/2008 6:03pm

The Fiji FUTSAL Commission has announced a 12 member national team that will compete in the OFC Qualifiers in Suva next month for a spot to the FUTSAL World Cup in September.

The team comprises of players from six districts and all players named are of indo-Fijian ethnicity. Six southern, two western and four northern division players have made the team.

Lautoka duo Alvin Avinesh and Arvindra Naidu are the only players from the western division while Labasa quartet of brothers Azmat and Imtiaz Begg, Dinesh Mudliar and Sandeep Nair alongside Rewa’s Kamal Hassan, Wasim Ali, Navua’s Siga Ali, Nasinu’s Ashish Chand and Suva pair of Vikash Prasad and Mira Hussein Sahib complete the list.

Fiji FUTSAL secretary Jainendra Sukhu said the team was a good one as it comprised of some of the finest and most skilful FUTSAL players in the country and the Commission was looking forward to positive results in the qualifiers.

“We have named the best possible team and are hopeful of doing well in the tournament which will also have big teams like New Zealand, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

“The players selected have been playing FUTSAL for some time now and are very well versed with the rules and style of the shorter code of football which is somewhat more rigorous and demands full fitness and alertness” said Sukhu.

National coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti will coach the national team and will be assisted by former Suva and national midfielder Intiaz Khan.

The team will assemble after the Fiji Bitter FACT tournament next week.

The OFC FUTSAL Qualfiers will be played from June 8-14 at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Source : FijiLive
Published : 25/5/2008

National Futsal Teams Announced

Both teams will tour oversea’s this year, congratulations to all players.

Womens National Futsal Team

1- Melissa Barbieri gk (Victoria Vipers)
2 – Jade Baker gk (North QLD Redbacks)
3 – Sam McGraw (South QLD Dragons)
4 – April Mann (North QLD Redbacks)
5 – Monnique Kofoed (South QLD Dragons)
6 – Jade Banks (South QLD Dragons)
7 – Jasmine Kent (North QLD Redbacks)
8 – Seyma Enreli (Victoria Vipers)
9 – Greta Kennedy (Barbarians)
10 – Teodora Balint (Victoria Vipers)
11 – Joanne Burgess (South QLD Dragons)
12 – Lailey Tanson (North QLD Redbacks)

Head Coach : Gui Costa ( Queensland )
Assistant Coach Jeff Hawkins ( Victoria)
Manager Nicola Zammit ( Queensland)

Shadows
13 – Jodie Hammond (South QLD Dragons)
14 – Kate Lutkins (North QLD Redbacks)
15 – Sarah Hasted Gk (Barbarians)

Mens National Futsal Team

1 – Gary Stone (Victoria Vipers)
2 – Zayne Frieberg (QLD Raiders)
3 – Felipe Amorim (Barbarians)
4 – Damian Pilat (Nth QLD Wizards)
5 – Fernando De Moreaes (Victoria Vipers)
6 – Ray Mortensen (QLD Raiders)
7 – Brett Richardson (QLD Raiders)
8 – Mirza Pedic (Victoria Vipers)
9 – Ben Hunt (QLD Raiders)
10 – Kui Mu (Victoria Vipers)
11 – Daniel Liddy (QLD Raiders)
12 – Colby Waterfield (Victoria Vipers)

Head Coach Milton Sakkos ( Victoria )
Assistant Coach David Major ( NNSW)
Manager TBC

Shadows
13 – Nick Pappadatos (QLD Raiders)
14 – Scott Fenn (QLD Raiders)
15 – John Barientos (Victoria Vipers)

Source : Vikings Futsal

Football NSW Futsal Department are seeking Expressions of Interest from Clubs who wish to participate in the 2008/09 Football NSW Futsal Premier/Super Leagues.

The Competition will be held on Saturday afternoon and nights commencing September 08 until completion in February 09. Clubs will be required to field teams in the following age categories:

12 Yr Boys
14 Yr Boys
16 Yr Boys
Youth (19 Years) Men
Open Men
13 Yr Girls
16 Yr Girls
Open Women
For further information please contact Football NSW Futsal Department on

(02) 814 4464 or Email futsal@soccernsw.com.au

Applications close Monday June 16th 2008

Source : Football NSW
Published : 20/05/2008

THE National Futsal squad will leave this Saturday for Sydney, Australia, for one week of warmup matches.This is in preparation for the Oceania Futsal Championships starting in Suva, Fiji, on June 8.

Fourteen players – including the experienced Elliot Ragomo and Jack Whitney are in the squad.

Manager Simon Dyer said the squad will return May 31 before leaving on June 3 for the qualifiers in Suva.

Solomon Islands play New Zealand on June 8th in their opening match.

Futsal is a five-aside indoor version of soccer. The tournament will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Taking part are Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The winners go to the FIFA Futsal World Cup, in Brazil in September.

Source : Soloman Star
By : Eddie Osifelo
Published : 22/5/2008

The winter state league round 4 took place at the States Sports Centre on Monday night this was action packed night and had a number of goals being scored and some quality Futsal was produced.

In the opening match of the night the 2nd placed Liverpool Fusion take on the 6th place Inner west Allstars in the Open Women’s competition. Fusion started this game like a house on fire producing a number of early chances. Allstars edged their way back into the contest with a nice effort from A Smith that only just went wide. Fusion had a golden chance to take the lead but some desperate defending by D Caridad kept the scores locked at nil all. Fusion took the lead with a well worked goal after some great build by Clare Tyson which was then put away by Kathryn Mladineo to give the Fusion girls the lead. Fusion went into the break leading one-nil.

The second half we witnessed a very determined Allstars side as they we desperate to get something out of this game they had a number of opportunities to get back into the contest and they equalized with a good strike by E Goss hitting the ball sweetly with the outside of her left foot. With the scores locked at one-all the game was there for the taking and Fusion grabbed it with both hands as Renee Tomkins scored to seal the victory for the Fusion girls leaving them in 2nd place on goal difference.

The men’s match of the night seen the 8th placed Sydney City Eagles take on the 5th placed Commodores this was always going to be a cracking game of Futsal. Both sides started the game at a very high tempo and both created a number of chances throughout the first stanza. The Commodores took the lead in the 8th Minute with Scott Dingwall doing a nice 360 turn and shot to give his side the lead. Sydney City came back into the contest in the 12th minute with a great team goal and nice finish by B Lam. The scoring for the half was not finished Chris Zabellos scored a great goal when his effort went into the top corner giving his side a two-one lead into the break.

The second half was a great half of Futsal with neither side giving an inch. Both goal keepers we called upon to make some fine saves during the half, with Shane Linton producing a fine double save late in the half. Sydney City held on to their lead and ran out deserved victors on the night. Sydney City has now jumped from 8th place to 5th on the Ladder.

Other results of the night were:

Men-

Sydney City Eagles 2 (B Lam, Chirs Zabellos)
Commodores 1 (Scott Dingwall)

Sydney Benfica 2 (Itaua Batista, Rilardo Gomes)
West City Crusaders 0

Plumpton 5 (Troy Eedy, Evan Daglis, Kane Wright x2, Robbie Greenway)
Inner West Allstars 2 (T Mascarello, B Dimitropolous)

Dural Warriors 6 (Julian Gonzalo x3, Ben Lawson x2, Toby Seeto)
Parramatta Blues 1 (S Ferguson)

Quake 6 (Danny Martinez, Tuan Cao x2, Dean Lochardt)
Maccabi 0

Shire Futsal 2 (Con Scouros, Roger Kilnkski)
Northern Beaches 8 (Andi Mazzolani, Engelo Rumora x3, Andrew Warlaw x2, Dave Pasuzzo, Antony Demasi)

Women-

Liverpool Fusion 2 (Kathryn Mladineo, Renee Tomkins)
Inner West Allstars 1 (E Goss)

Dural Warriors 0
Sydney Magic 5 (Natasha LoGiudice, Joanne Saliba, Kahlee Doyle, Natalie Spirovski)

Quake 3 (Clare Walsh, Stephanie Haim)
Sydney City Eagles 1 (M Link)

Source : Football NSW
Published : 20/05/2008

FIJI will kick off its campaign at the 2008 Oceania Football Federation FUTSAL Championships against New Caledonia.

The draws for the June 8-14 tournament to be held at the Vodafone Arena (Fiji) were released yesterday.

The tournament will have seven OFC nations including Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The OFC Futsal Championship is held every four years with the winner progressing to the FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be held in Brazil this year during September.

2008 marks the first OFC Futsal Championship since Australia switched confederations from OFC to Asia on January 1, 2006.

Australia has won the last four OFC Futsal Championships spanning back to 1992 and their absence will provide a great opportunity for other OFC nations to attend their first FIFA Futsal World Cup.

In the last tournament in 2004 New Zealand finished runners up to Australia with Vanuatu defeating Fiji in the third and fourth play-off.

National coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti will be assisted by former rep Intiaz Khan.

The national side will be named this week by Buzzetti.

A number of 11-a-side players are in contention to make the cut in the 12-member side.

These include Dinesh Mudaliar, Sandip Nair, Joela Baledrokadroka, Azmat Begg and Mira Shahib.

Draws -

Match Day 1
8 June 2008
Kick-off                   Team  A                           Team B
TBC                          Solomon Islands              New Zealand
TBC                          Tuvalu                              Vanuatu
TBC                          Fiji                                    New Caledonia
Bye                           Tahiti

Match Day 2
9 June 2008
Kick-off                    Team  A                            Team B
TBC                           New Zealand                     Vanuatu
TBC                           Solomon Islands               New Caledonia
TBC                           Tuvalu                               Tahiti
Bye                            Fiji

Match Day 3
10 June 2008
Kick-off                     Team  A                            Team B
TBC                            Vanuatu                            New Caledonia
TBC                            New Zealand                     Tahiti
TBC                            Solomon Islands               Fiji
Bye                             Tuvalu

Match Day 4
11 June 2008
Kick-off                  Team  A                                Team B
TBC                         New Caledonia                      Tahiti
TBC                         Vanuatu                                Fiji
TBC                         New Zealand                         Tuvalu
Bye                          Solomon Islands

Match Day 5
12 June 2008
Kick-off                    Team  A                                     Team B
TBC                           Tahiti                                         Fiji
TBC                           New Caledonia                           Tuvalu
TBC                           Vanuatu                                     Solomon Islands
Bye                            New Zealand

Match Day 6
13 June 2008
Kick-off                      Team  A                                 Team B
TBC                             Fiji                                         Tuvalu
TBC                             Tahiti                                     Solomon Islands
TBC                             New Caledonia                      New Zealand
Bye                              Vanuatu

Match Day 7
14 June 2008
Kick-off                    Team A                                 Team B
TBC                           Tuvalu                                   Solomon Islands
TBC                           Fiji                                        New Zealand
TBC                           Tahiti                                    Vanuatu
Bye                            New Caledonia

Sources : Oceania Football Confederation and  Fiji Times
Published : 19/5/2008 (OFC) and 20/5/2008 (Fiji Times)

It was a feast of futsal football at Menai last week as school teams across Sydney battled it out in the 2008 Football NSW Schools Regionals Futsal Championships. A total of 45 teams competed in the indoor football under-14 boys and girls, under-16 boys and girls and the under-19 boys and girls divisions.

The highlight of the tournament was a sudden death penalty win to Kogarah High School over St Johns Park High School. With the scores tied at 3-all at full-time Kogarah were able to clinch the win 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out.

Sutherland Shire based schools dominated the competition winning every event. All grand final teams will play in the Football NSW State Championships being held at Penrith next month.

Grand final results:

Under-14 boys: Endeavour Sports 5 defeated St Spyridon College 1
Under-14 girls: Woolooware High 5 defeated Sarah Redfern 2
Under-16 boys: Blakehurst 6 defeated Inaburra High 2
Under-16 girls: Jannali High 3 defeated Blakehurst High 0
Under-19 boys: St Johns Park 3 drew with Kogarah HS 3. Kogarah won 6-5 on sudden death penalties
Under-19 girls: Blakehurst High 6 defeated Kirrawee High 0

Source : St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
Published : 17/5/2008 4:00am