Two Northland students have been selected to represent New Zealand in a sport most New Zealanders haven’t even heard of.

The Otamatea High School pair were spotted by talent scouts during a first XI girls soccer game and were singled out to play the unconventional indoor sport, futsal, in the Under-16s Australasian Futsal Tournament.

The girls, Amberley Watson and Stephanie Hoffman, both 14, said the invitation to play for the Vikings under-16s in Melbourne in October came completely out of the blue.

“It was so random. I just got a letter in the post inviting me to be part of the team.

I hadn’t even played futsal before,” Amberley said.
Amberley has played soccer for 10 years but is looking forward to playing the harder, faster version in the three-day tournament.

“Futsal is a more challenging sport than soccer. It was such an honour to be picked to represent my country,” Amberley said.

The randomness of the invitation was what stunned the girls but both are looking forward to tackling the tournament head-on.

Teams from Australia and New Zealand will compete in the event.

Although the girls were selected over thousands of other teenagers throughout the country they have to fund their own trip.

Source : The Northern Advocate
By : Eleanor Woods
Published : 25/7/2008

Grand Final Results from the competition.

12 Boys Primary – Jindalee S.S Defeated Bli Bli S.S 4-3
12 Girls Primary – Mountain Creek S.S Defeated Chapel Hill S.S 3-2
13 Boys Secondary – Kawana Waters S.C Defeated St Marys College 8-2
14 Boys – Harristown S.H.S Defeated Marsden S.H.S 8-4
14 Girls – Albany Creek S.H.S Defeated Robina S.H.S 3-1
15 Boys – Warwick S.H.S Defeated Beaudesert S.H.S 2-1
16 Boys – Albany Creek S.H.S Defeated Gympie S.H.S 4-1
16 Girls – The Gap Defeated Grace Lutheran 9-3
19 Boys – Runcorn S.H.S Defeated Robina S.H.S 5-2
19 Girls – Grace Lutheran Defeated Palm Beach Currumbin 4-1

Source : Queensland Futsal (Vikings)

Appointments for the Football NSW Winter State League finals were released this week by the management committee. The Sydney Olympic Park Sports Halls at Homebush play host to last matches of New South Wales’ premier winter futsal competition.

In the men’s semi-finals Andrew Best will work with Nick Backo when first place Sydney Benfica takes on fourth ranked Campbelltown City Quake in the first semi-final. Gavin Lee and Jonathon Moore will preside over the other grand final qualifier between second place finisher Plumpton and Dural Warriors who snuck into third on goal difference in the last match of the regular season.

The Women’s final pits first against second when Campbelltown City Quake face Sydney Tragics ABCD. Both sides have a victory over the other in the two regular season meetings and highly rated female referee Alessandra Moussa will take charge of the decider. Alex Eroukhimovitch runs on the other side of the pitch while Gavin Lee will keep an eye on the benches as third referee.

After acting as third referees in one men’s semi-final each, FIFA futsal referee Scott Kidson and Ryan Shepheard will oversee the men’s finale together, with Andrew Best backing up from the opening match of the night to patrol the technical areas. The winners from earlier in the evening will get only a short break before trying to take home the second winter edition’s crown.

Young referees who want to see some of the best futsal officials in the country strut their stuff have that opportunity from 7pm, when the first semi-final kicks off, until 9:15pm when the men’s final is scheduled to begin.

Source : NSW Futsal Referees Association
Published 24/7/2008

The Breakers Futsal Club will be holding trials on the following dates for all age groups for the upcoming NSW Futsal Super League.

The dates and times of the trials are:

Saturday 2nd August

9:15am – 10:30am U13 Girls
10:30am – 12noon U16 Girls & Open Ladies

Sunday 10th & 17th August

12noon – 1:15pm U12 Boys
1:15pm – 2:20pm U14 Boys
2:30pm – 3:45pm U16 Boys
3:45pm – 4:45pm Youth Men
4:45pm – 6.00pm Open Men

All trials to be held at Curl Curl Community Centre

Source : Football NSW

Fraser Park Futsal Club is seeking expressions of interest from players in the following age groups

Boys: 12, 14, 16, Youth Men (19 years) and Open Men.

Girls: 13, 16 years and Open Women.

All interested players should contact the operations manager Arthur Kazas (Archie) on 0423 632 767 or by email Arthur.kazas@dodo.com.au

Fraser Park will be playing out of The Tempe Netball Centre, Holbeach Ave, Tempe

Source : Football NSW

We invite players to trial for the Botany Bay Pirates Super League squads of 2008/2009

Trials will be held at the ST.GEORGE PCYC, Ador Ave ROCKDALE as follows:

Saturday 2nd & 9th August

U12 Boys 3-4pm
U14 Boys 4-5pm
U16 Boys & Youth (U19) 5-6pm
Men 7-8pm

U13 Girls 1-2pm
U16 Girls 2-3pm
Women 6-7pm

Please arrive 20 minutes prior to trials for registration.

Any further enquiries please contact Dez on 0419012002.

Source : Football NSW

Two more teams in the Archem Premier League, outdoor futsal and beach football are just some of the changes Greg Bath will fight for when his 2009 Football Development proposal is considered by the board of directors.Bath, president of Football Bundaberg, will approach the board of directors this Monday night with radical changes to the regular season.

One the major changes outlined in Bath’s proposal is adding two more teams to the Archem Premier League.
North Bundaberg, who dropped out of the season this year due to a lack of numbers, and a Spirit Academy Bundaberg team (SAB).

The SAB team would be made up of Bundaberg, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Gympie players and would act as a Spirit feeder club.

“These lads will be like apprentices in the Spirit team and after their coaches think they are ready to play state league they will get put on the bench and might get 10 minutes of a game which could lead to anything,” Bath said.

“It’s a very exclusive team and the objective is too provide promising young players with elite style coaching so the Spirit have resources.”

Players aged between 15 and 18 would be eligible to play in the SAB team with ties to the side to be cut once a person turns 19.

The SAB team would not be allowed to accept Archem Premier League prize money with the next two highest teams to receive the premiership money.

Bath will also look to introduce beach football (November-January 2009), outdoor futsal (October-February 2009), a veterans over-35 league (October-December 2008) and a junior and senior five-a-side tournament (October-December 2008).

The beach football competition would incorporate a blow up pitch to be used at a number of local beaches, pending council approval.

Source : NewsMail
Published : 23/7/2008

Captain of the Futsal Premier League winning Hawkesbury Commodores 13 girls team, 13-year-old Kristi Pavlicevic, has continued with her fine form in the outdoor season.

Having represented NSW in the 13 girls state Futsal team that played at Nationals in Canberra in January, Pavlicevic came straight back into a selection camp at Valentine Park for the 13 girls outdoor team to compete in the Friendship Games in July. From this, a train-on squad of 28 was selected that continued to trial weekly and then went into camp at Bathurst in April where a final selection was made.

A squad of 20 was named and after three more weeks training and trials, the team of 16 was chosen, with four shadows. This was Pavlicevic’s second year in the NSW Metro team.

The Friendship Games is an annual event that Football NSW hosts at Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW’s headquarters in Sydney. The Friendship Games features the best age group players across Australia, representing their respective States and Territories.

Two age groups featured in the games which saw the U13 Boys and U14 Girls compete in their respective age groups. State teams ranging from Victoria Metro, Victoria Country, South Australia, CFA Helix, NSW Metro, NSW Country, and the South Australian Women’s Soccer Association all took part. Pavlicevic’s team was undefeated during the tournament.

The Select 11 side is determined on a 3, 2,1 points basis with each team nominating players after each game. Team officials nominate players from the opposing team only. All votes are then tallied and the players with the most points make up the ‘Select 11′. The side comprises one goal keeper, four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards.

Pavlicevic was voted the top defender and received the players award in the final match against Victoria Country.

She now attends The Hills Sports High where she was accepted into the soccer program under Young Matildas coach, Alan Stajic.

Source : Hawkesbury Gazette
Published : 23/7/2008

At just four years of age, Jake Garner was destined to be a football player. Garner, now 14, started playing with a ball in his backyard and has progressed to representing his country 10 years later.

Garner has been selected in the Australian under-14 futsal team which will tour Brazil and Chile in November for the 2008 Viking Pacific Junior Titles.

The Ignatius Park College student started playing outdoor football at the age of seven and was introduced to futsal (indoor) at the age of nine.

“I enjoy futsal, it’s a fast game and you have to use a lot of skills,” Garner said.

“There is a lot more decision-making than outdoor football.”

Garner, who has been overseas on several occasions, said he was looking forward to the learning experience of playing for Australia.

“I hope to learn a lot and have a good time,” Garner said.

“It’s a great life experience for me and it will be good to go away with the boys.”

The Ignatius Park student was one of 10 players picked and the only North Queensland player to be selected.

Garner said most of the players were from Brisbane, Victoria and New South Wales.

“I’m looking forward to going away with them, we will all have a good time,” Garner said.

This year was Garner’s second time to be selected for the Australian side after he was chosen in the side in under-13s.

Garner said he could not go on that occasion and was looking forward to November’s trip.

The fullback’s list of achievements includes selection in the North Queensland team which will play in the junior premier league competition this year.

The new competition sees regional cities including Central Queensland, Mackay, North Queensland, Far North Queensland and Wide Bay competing on a regular basis.

“I’ve been playing for the premier league competition for outdoor football but I’ve also played for Townsville and North Queensland a few times,” he said.

“I play as a centre/midfielder in outdoor.”

The talented player was keen to follow in the footsteps of his idol David Beckham who also plays in the centre/midfield.

“I would love to be the richest player in the football league,” Garner said.

“I love watching him take the free kicks, because I take them too.”

Source : Townsville Bulletin
Published : 23/7/2008
By : Natalie Peut

The 3rd and Final Men’s Napier’s Cup Challenge will take place on Sunday 3rd August. Nominations will close on Friday 26th July. Be fast to get your nomination in. Visit www.qldfutsal.com.au for more information.

The Men’s tournament will be quickly followed by the inaugural exhibition day Mixed Competition. This event, also sponsored by Napier’s Finance will be held at Moorooka Futsal Club. For more information please visit www.qldfutsal.com.au 

Competition winners receive a full strip and medals, while the runners up receive team polo shirts and medals.

For more information please contact Vikings Futsal on 3875 2600.

Source : Vikings Futsal
Published : 23/7/2008