The Fiji Football Association’s FUTSAL commission has named a strong 25 member training squad for the upcoming Oceania Football Confederation FUTSAL Championship which will be played in Fiji.

Fiji FUTSAL secretary Jainendra Sukhu said the commission decided to name a squad early so the team prepares well for the tournament.

“Fiji is hosting the championship and needs to field a competitive and strong team therefore we have named our squad early so they can have the best preparation.”

“The players have been selected based on their performance in the first open club championship that we held in Suva and other players that impress in the western competition which we will be holding in Ba next month will also be considered for the national team.”

“The squad will commence training from next Thursday under coach Intiaz Khan and the training program will continue till the championship in July.”

“FUTSAL is a very popular and fast growing sport in the Oceania region and teams have a lot of benefits of competing in the sport as the winners of the regional playoffs automatically qualify for the World stage competitions” he added.

The western open club championship will be played at Govind Park from March 22-23.

The squad:

Dinesh Mudliar (Nadogo), Sandeep Nair (Nadogo), Navinesh Chand (Nadogo), Navin Reddy (Nadogo), Nathan Kumar (Fiji Sun), Neumi Qereqeretabua (Fiji Sun), Kamal Hassan (Fiji Sun), Pita Bolaitoga (Red Devils), Rajnesh Raju (Red Devils), Ben Aminio (Red Devils), Shonal Sharma (Red Devils), Monit Chand (Red Rock), Michael Kumar (Red Rock), Imtiaz Begg (Extreme Stationary), Mira Sahib (Extreme Stationary), Nitin (Central Vuci), Zaid Suleman (Central Vuci), Kitione Baleiloa (Flagstaff), Aaron Lal (Flagstaff), Joseph Mishra (Nadogo), Feroz Khan (Savusavu), Shiwan Nathan (Savusavu), Ravikash (Civic), Kavitesh Pal (Lokia) and Nitin Chandra (Lokia).

Source : Fijilive
Published : 28/2/2009

Chanel College has dominated the inaugural inter-school futsal challenge winning all divisions in both, the girls’ and boys’, competitions.

The futsal competition involved teams from local high schools playing for the right to contest the ‘champion of champions’ event later this year.

The high school girls played on Wednesday while the boys played on Thursday at Gladstone’s PCYC.

The schools event has previously been held in Rockhampton but the sports growing popularity has seen it come to the Harbour City for the first time.

The girls contested the U14 and U19 divisions with the Chanel girls winning both.

Chanel narrowly beat Tannum Sands High 4-3 in a highscoring affair in the U14 girls’ final.

Another close match was the U19 final with Chanel defeating Toolooa 2-1.

The boys’ competition on Thursday turned out to be an all-Chanel affair.

Fixtures were played for the U13 to U19 divisions, although the Chanel U15 team won as they were the only side to enter that category.

The U13 Chanel team faced off against Tannum Sands in the final and emerged with a 4-2 win.

The two teams competed in the U14 division as well, with Chanel 4-0 winners.

Tannum Sands and Chanel also played off in the U16 category, with the Tannum team just missing out at 3-2.

In the senior age group of the competition, the U19, Chanel easily accounted for Toolooa 3-0.

Competition organiser Gail Jasperson from CQ Futsal said the carnival was a “very huge success” considering it was the first time it had been held in Gladstone.

Source : The Observer
By : Liam Butterworth
Published : 27/2/2009

Last Saturday saw the end to another Futsal season with the Grand Finals held at Dural Sport & Leisure Centre.

12 boys – The clash between Minor Premiers, South Coast Taipans and Sydney Benfica lived up to everyone’s expectations with a magnificent display of attacking Futsal by both teams. In the end Benfica’s better finishing carried the day for the boys in red. The final score line of 5-3 would have gladdened the hearts of those fans who appreciate and end-to-end, high scoring game of Futsal.

Goal scorers: Benfica= S. Kuzmanovski 3, P. Xenos 2 / Taipans= A. Calver 2, D. Kotrcova 1

14 boys – The final positions on the table indicated that this was always going to be a close encounter both on the court and the scoreboard. Minor Premiers Enfield Rovers just getting over the top of a very gallant South Coast Taipans outfit in a very exciting game. The thrust and parry from both teams kept the fans entertained throughout the game with some excellent goals being scored at both ends.

Goal scorers: Enfield Rovers= M. Cimino 3, D Graham 1 / South Coast Taipans= D. Rea 1, C. Sidani 1, C.Solevski 1.

13 Girls – Minor Premiers, the Breakers FC went into this game with the extra incentive of going through the season undefeated if they won on the day. And win they did in stylish fashion against a very determined Parramatta Bluberries who never gave up trying in a great game that featured some fantastic Futsal. The beach girls had this under control throughout the match and ran out convincing and well deserved winners by 4-2 to seal a very impressive season being the only team to go through the Super League undefeated.

Goal scorers: Breakers FC= H. Johnston 3, L. Cook 1 / Parramatta= E. Manouk 1, A. Vousden 1.

16 Boys – The Dural Warriors started this game in whirl wind fashion putting tremendous pressure on the Botany Bay Pirates defence. The Bay boys constructed some very good attacking moves of their own but better finishing by the Hills lads saw them lead by four goals at half time. Their dominance continued in the second half even though the Pirate lads kept trying ever so hard. The final score line of 7-2 reflects the dominance of the Minor Premiers in a very well deserved victory.

Goal scorers: Dural Warriors= R. Johnstone 3, M. Brown 1, S. Wakeling 1, N. Niski 1, S. Bingham 1. Botany Bay Pirates= A. Bakovic 1, M. Gorman 1.

16 Girls – Minor Premiers, Breakers FC made it two out of two for the Northern club with an emphatic 6-2 victory over the Sydney Uni girls. Hard as they tried the students found the going tough against a very talented and well drilled Breakers outfit who kept up the pressure despite leading comfortably on the scoreboard. Some excellent goals punctuated this game and they kept the crowd entertained throughout. The very high standard of play augurs well for the future of the sport as these girls get ready to step up into the senior ranks.

Goal scorers: Breakers FC= B. Sweeny 3, S. Roger 2, B. Bates 1. / Sydney Uni= S. Mackay 1, K. Morphett 1.

Youth Men – Sydney Benfica edged out the Dural Warriors by a solitary goal as they managed to make the most of their opportunities. The 1-0 half time score line in favour of the Hills boys does not reflect the great attacking prowess of both teams. The Minor Premiers turned the score line around in the second half only to see their one goal lead disappear with a couple of minutes to go on the clock; not to be denied, Benfica struck back securing the game with a goal in the last 30 seconds of play. A superb display by both teams in an enthralling game of Futsal.

Goal scorers: Sydney Benfica= H. Akil 2, W. Stevao 1. / Dural Warriors= D. Codrington 1, S. Bingham 1.

Women – Breakers FC, looking to complete a trifecta of wins on the day, found themselves trailing a plucky Dural Warriors team by a solitary goal. In a game of see-sawing fortunes both keepers were kept very busy but they stood up to the challenge very well. As the game wore on the Breakers began to impose themselves and ran out narrow but well deserved winners completing a great day for the club from the peninsula emphasising their dominance in the female Super League Futsal ranks.

Goal scorers: Breakers FC= E. Wheatley 1, B. Bates 1. / Dural Warriors= S. Codrington 1.

Men – Fantastic goals, excellent goalkeeping, a courageous fight back, two contrasting playing styles made this game one of the highlights of the season. The Minor Premiers Dural Warriors, attempting to go through the season undefeated, fell at the last hurdle against an inspired Sydney Benfica team. The boys from the south began in storming fashion taking a four goal lead to the break, but the Warriors closed the gap to one goal in the second stanza. Showing their class, Benfica stretched their lead once again only to see it reduced one more time. The final whistle brought to an end a superb game of Futsal between two very good sides with Benfica deserved winners in the end bringing the club’s tally of wins to three on the day.

Goal scorers: Sydney Benfica= C. Ongaratto 2, I. Batista 1, O. De Barros 1, H. Akil 1. / Dural Warriors= E. Rumora 2, K. Grogan 1, B. Stapylton 1.

Source : Football NSW
Published : 27/2/2009

The 1st AGM of the Sutherland Shire Futsal Association Incorporated took place on Friday 20th February 2009 at the head office of the Sutherland Shire Football Association Incorporated.

The following members have been elected;

President, Jonathan Simnett
Vice President, Jim Apostolovski
Secretary, Ruth Guerreiro
Treasurer, Ruth Guerreiro
General Committee, Colin Armstrong
General Committee, Steve Simonovski
General Committee, Ken Swift

Each of these persons were elected to the Management Committee by members present unopposed.

The annual report was tabled by the Management Committee with reports and financials of the Futsal Association’s activities being approved by members.

Thank you also to Mr. Frank Rossi and his wife Debbie for their attendance representing the Futsal Standing Committee of Football NSW.

In closing the AGM the newly elected President Jonathan Simnett thanked each of the members for their attendance.

Source : Sutherland Shire Futsal
By : J Simnett
Published : 26/2/2009

The first round for both leagues have been held. The 14 years boys teams competed.

Premier League Results

Round-robin matches
Assisi College v Robina SHS 3-3
Assisi College v Shailer Park SHS 1-10
Tullawong SHS v Clontarf Beach SHS 0-7
Robina SHS v Shailer Park SHS 0-2
Assisi College v Tullawong SHS 2-5
Robina SHS v Clontarf Beach SHS 2-4
Tullawong SHS v Shailer Park SHS 1-14
Assisi College v Clontarf Beach SHS 2-2
Robina SHS v Tullawong SHS 5-1
Shailer Park SHS v Clontarf Beach SHS 4-1

Final – Shailer Park SHS defeated Clontarf Beach SHS

Championship League Results

Round-robin matches
Grace Lutheran College v Deception Bay SHS 11-0
Grace Lutheran College v Albany Creek SHS 4-6
Anglican Church Grammar v St Andrews College 1-2
Deception Bay SHS v Albany Creek SHS 1-3
Grace Lutheran College v Anglican Church Grammar 13-2
Deception Bay SHS v St Andrews College 1-0
Anglican Church Grammar v Albany Creek SHS 0-9
Grace Lutheran College v St Andrews College 5-2
Deception Bay SHS v Anglican Church Grammar 2-1
Albany Creek SHS v St Andrews College 4-2

Final – Grace Lutheran College defeated Albany Creek SHS

The next round is for the 16 years girls teams being held on 1 May and 8 May.

Source : Robina State High School
Published : 25/2/2009

About 50 local futsal coaches will benefit from a coaching programme the Oceania Football Confederation will conduct starting Thursday in Honiara.

Those coaches invited to attend the coaching programme are those who coached open men’s teams in the 2008 Honiara Futsal League and other coaches who involved with the Under 16 groups.

Small Sided Games Development officer Victor Wai’ia said it is important two coaches from each team see him at his office at Lawson Tama to register their names.

The coaching programme will be conducted by the visiting OFC Futsal Development officer Scott Gilligan.

Gilligan who has wide experience in coaching futsal said he would like the futsal gospel to spread and by involving more coaches in the coaching programme.

He will also assist the Solomon Kurukuru squad in its preparation for the Oceania Futsal Championship Cup in May in Fiji during his stay here.

Gilligan a renowned Australian Futsal coach before taking up the job with the OFC is keen to see futsal develop in all the island countries.

He said his job is to develop the code in all the countries in Oceania including Solomon Islands.
However, Solomon Islands coaching programme would be slightly different because futsal is not a new sport here.

“I would adjust my programme slightly to suit the needs of this country,” Gilligan said.

Source : Solomon Star
Published : 25/2/2009

Four talented Mullumbimby High School students were chosen to play for Northern NSW Vikings in the Schools Australian Futsal Championships at Dandenong in Melbourne recently.

Simon Knight was in the U13 division while Corey Montgomery, Dan Musgrave and Simon’s brother Tim Knight all competed in the U15 division.

The championships ran over 3 days with teams from New Zealand and all over Australia competing.
Each of the boys pushed themselves to their personal limit and performed brilliantly and state organisers commented that they did their school and state proud.

While the boys were competing in Melbourne, the Australian Schools selectors chose Tim Knight to play in the Australian U16 school team to tour Brazil in April.

A few weeks after returning from Melbourne Dan, Corey and Tim won the Queensland Country Titles at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast playing as members of the Far North Coast U16 Vipers.

At the end of last year the U15 boys entered the Brisbane Cup Championships and played against the best club teams from all over Southern Queensland. They were undefeated in 7 games during the day in the leadup to the final.
The inal was a real thriller and after 10 gruelling hours of Futsal, the Southern QLD Rep team traded goal for goal with our boys. With only 20 seconds left on the clock our local boys scored an unstoppable goal from the left flank and they claimed the Brisbane Cup.

The latest news is that over the summer school holidays Tim was spotted by the Open Men’s NSW team National League coach, Brazilian ‘Wizz’ Philepe Amorim and was asked to train with the open men’s National League team.

Source : Byron Shire Echo
Published : 24/2/2009

The Hills Stadium at Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle Hill hosted the Unity Cup a futsal tournament first introduced in 2003 on Sunday. Organised by members of the Baha’i community of Baulkham Hills, players from Baulkham Hills, Nowra, Wollongong, Melbourne, Liverpool, Parramatta, South Coast, and Perth competed in the event.

The competition’s aim is to unify futsal players from various cultural and religious backgrounds. The tournament had 20 teams playing (including The Legends from The Hills pictured in blue), and the final winners on the day was Team Shahab of the South Coast. As part of Sunday’s national day of mourning for the Victorian bushfire victims, a minutes silence was held before the tournament started. Also, $500 of the day’s proceeds was donated to the Red Cross appeal.

Source : Hills News
Published : 24/2/2009
Pictures: Michael Szabath

Futsal in the Solomon Islands has been rated higher in the Oceania region.

Futsal Project Manager of the Win in Oceania Programme Scott Gilligan revealed this yesterday when confirming the participation of two Kurukuru national futsal players in the Futsal Development Programs in Papua New Guinea.

Gilligan said Jack Whitney and Philip are there to give ideas and offer expertise in similar futsal programmes coordinated by Brain Codrangton.

“The two boys, who left yesterday, will assist with similar programmes by offering their expertise in the game.

“Each country is in a different level and Solomon Islands is a bit advance in terms of Futsal in the Oceania and have played in the World Cup,” he said.

Gilligan is here in the country as part of the Win in Oceania program initiated by FIFA to help and assist the Solomon Islands development squad, which is made up of new and old Kurukuru players.

He will be helping out in the academy side of the development squad.

“To improve the standard and watch the diversity of the players in the next three weeks. I have a fair degree of how this boys play and we will make mainly on the tactical side and enhance the boys for the next three weeks,” he said.

He added that the boys’ development was boosted by their trainings, good coaching and facilities at the Dural Sports Centre in Australia.

“The last World Cup has offered the boys valuable aspects of the game,” said Gilligan, who accompanied the Kurukuru to the World Cup in Brazil last year.

Source : Solomon Star
By : Philip Lilomo
Published : 24/2/2009

Vikings NSW Futsal would like to invite Open Men’s Teams to compete in a Friday Night Competition throughout Winter where they can continue to develop their skills and the game or just have a social enjoyable time.

This competition will be held at Michael Wenden Aquatic Leisure Centre.

62 Cabramatta Ave
Miller

Entries close Friday 6th March 2009

Please contact Amanda Bowering on 0458003280 or amandab@vikingsfutsal.com for further information or to enter a team.

Source : Vikings Futsal
Published : 24/2/2009