Thursday January 22, 2009 5:54 pm

No Substitute for Experience (NZ Vikings)

Logo - Vikings NZ A tour group of 70 (7 teams) jetted across the Tasman to contest the Vikings Futsal Championships in Sydney.

The group was light on experience with Futsal only being established New Zealand wide for 4 years but all the sides, players and officials excepted this would be their learning curve.

Vikings NZ tournaments and tours coordinator, Rebecca Banfield, was excited about leading the largest New Zealand Futsal group to visit Australia, or anywhere for that matter. “It’s been a huge task bringing all the players together from around New Zealand and then organising them all”, said Bafield. “Everyone has been awesome and we have a great spirit amongst all the players and teams.

There is a huge cross section of players ranging in age from 11years (13 girls side) to 40 years (snr womens) but they all gelled together and supported each other. They came from as far north as Kerikeri and as far South as Dunedin and Queenstown.

Knowing they lacked experience at this level the players and teams were were determind to make their make on the Futsal stage all the while learning as much as they could. At this level there would be no easy games but with the right mental toughness, game plan and attitude the kiwi’s would have the potential to upset sides.

The final part of the tour would become a Futsal extravaganza. All the the players came into a Futsal camp in Christchurch Jan 9th to 11th before flying out to Sydney on Monday Jan 9th. The sides contested the State Series of the Championships Jan 13-15th (16th for the Senior teams) before the taking part in the club series as Southern Stars sides Jan 17-18th.

The 13 girls side comprised of 4 x 11yo, 2 x 12yo and 3 x 13yo and punched well above their young age in the 13 girls division. The side went through the round robin phase with only 1 loss, cruised into the final where they were beaten 5-2 by Queensland. The side then reformed and played in the 14 girls section of the club series and again made the final where they were defeated by a very good 14yr girls side 6-1. The bulk of this side is able to stay together and contest the 13 girls section again next.

The Youth Women started the tournament slowly with a couple of narrow losses. These games games would ultimately haunt them as they then lost their final 2 games by a single goal. All up they played 5, won 1, lost 4, but 3 of those losses where by a single goal. The side then reformed and played in the club series in the open womens section making the semi finals. Along the way the beat the Victorian Youth side 7-3, a side they lost to 4-3 in the state series. Once again nearly all of this side is able to return next year.

The open women went into this tournament with high hopes after their second place finish in the Vikings Cup in NZ, August 2008. The opening 2 games where always going to be the toughest up against eventual finalists Queensland and NSW. Keeper Noran Abaza was sent off for a handball outside the area which put the girls on the backfoot for the first 2 games. They then had a heartbreak loss to Victoria before getting on the board with a solid win over Northern NSW. While the results didn’t fall their way this side made some great progress and will be better for the run in this enviorment.

The 14boys side had a mixed tournament. they won a couple last a couple and drew a game in the State series putting them into the semi finals. They eventually lost a close SF but this loss seemed to lift the standard of play for the side as they headed into the club section. They played in the 16boys division in the club section where they upset some of the older teams. The best of which was a 4-2 win over South Australia 16’s. After the round robin they played a final against another 14boys side which they won easily 5-0. This side made huge progress as the tournament rolled on.

The 16boys looked great throughout the tournament and finished 2nd in pool play in the State series. Sadly they lost their semi final and where knocked out but played some very attractive Futsal along the way. The side reformed for the club series and waltzed into the grand final but again came unstuck. This agegroup holds a lot of the future for the men in New Zealand and with more time will make their mark.

The Youth men were another team to be dogged by 1 goal losses. However they did score enough goals to squeak into the semi finals where they lost to eventual champions Qld. The side then played in the mens section of the club series and played extremely well. they played the round robin section where they came up against Victoria Youth whom beat them in the club section and knocked them off 3-1. This put them into the Yht Men final where they went down to Queensland 1-3 in a very tight game. Again, all but 2 of this side can potentially return next year. many of these boys will also feature in the NZ U/21 mens side which is looking at heading to Europe at the end of the year.

For the men it was a case of the what if’s. The side came into the tournament with a new attacking system and for the most part executed it well. The biggest issue was putting the ball into the back of the net. They ended the tournament with 5 loses a win and a draw. In each of the losses they were in the game. Against Victoria they lost 5-4, QLD was 1-0 down for most of the game before conceeded a small flurry at the end trying to score with the extra player, NSW lost 2-1, West Australia NZ led 4-3 with 9 to play before going down 7-4 again trying to score the equaliser Tasmania they led 3-2 before conceeding the last 5 goals. This side is young, very young. Bakr Alsaudi is the oldest and most experienced at 26 meaning this side will grow over the next couple of years.

All in all the New Zealand sides performed very well and gained that valuable experience. The men and women have a some things to work on but in most cases they are a goal post away from becoming very powerful sides.

The Youth aged sides showed what time together can do. Every side made a final in the club section with the Yth Women and 14 boys sides winning. Congratulations to all the players, coaches and officials and a special mention to the supporters who made themselves heard. A very special congratulations to Stephen Roach who was named Referee of the tournament, Chelsea Stockdill (13 girls All Star), Lauren Dabner (13 girls All Star) and Noran Abaza (Open Womens All Star).