Sporting dynamo Michelle James is desperate to attend the National School Futsal Championships in September, but may be forced to abandon her dreams because of finances.

The Clontarf Beach State High School student, 16, has been involved in soccer for three years and used to play at Redcliffe PCYC.

She now plays futsal through school and has been selected for the South Queensland School Futsal Team.

“It was getting a bit expensive so I was happy to be invited to play for my school futsal team,” Michelle said.

Michelle has been training and coaching players at her school since she was 14.

“I am extremely passionate about futsal,” James said.
“It’s my ambition and dream to continue this as a career.”

The event will cost her $1500 to attend.

James has contacted numerous community businesses for support but so far has only managed to achieve a $200 sponsorship from the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

“I need another $1300 to attend this is so important to me. I would appreciate any help so that I can go,” she said.

To help Michelle achieve her dream and get to her futsal championship, phone her on 3885 3437.

Many Premier League stars attribute their skills to playing Futsal as youngsters and it’s hoped that more Brits will take up the sport. BBC Sport’s Nick Hope investigates at the National Cup finals in Sheffield.

Botany Bay Pirates are conducting trials for the 2009/2010 Football NSW Super League season.

Dates: Sunday 19th and 26th July
Venue: St.George PCYC, 9 Ador Ave, Rockdale

Boys
U12 12:45pm-1:45pm
U14 9:00am-10:00am
U16 10:15am-11:15am
Youth 11:30am-12:30pm
Men 7:00pm-8:30pm

Girls
U12 2:00pm-3:00pm
U14 3:15pm-4:15pm
U16 4:30pm-5:30pm
Women 6:00pm-7:00pm

Please arrive atleast 20min prior to your trial time to register. All players require shin pads. Registration forms are available on the website :

www.botanybaypirates.com

For further information please contact:

Paulo Dutra 0488 776 566 or
Wanda Clifford 0407 929 400
Email: futsal@botanybaypirates.com

The government recent declaration to assist the national futsal stadium construction is nothing more than ‘an answered prayer”, says a sports fanatic Jimmy Hite.

He said the government’s positive response came three days after he publicly called on authorities to recognise and reward the outstanding performance of the national futsal side, the Kurukuru.

“On behalf of the futsal supporters and fans, I acknowledge the government’s assistance towards the futsal stadium.

“At last the government recognise the outstanding performance of our young futsal players and their need for a proper training venue here,” he said.

On July 10, this paper carried a news article about Hite’s concern and suggestion to reward the futsal squad with a proper training venue in return for their outstanding performance in regional and world events.

The assistance, he said, will further develop the sport, attract hidden talents and eventually boost participation.

He challenged the government and sports administrators to consider this major futsal need and take necessary step to address it, adding it is useless promoting the sport when there is no proper and internationally recognised futsal infrastructure.

Just last weekend in Honiara, Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua and his deputy Fred Fono assured the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) of the government’s assistance.

“The government’s response may be a coincident, but to me it is an answer our prayer.

“I challenge the government to stick to its promise to speed up the construction of the futsal stadium,” he said.

With the land already allocated, he said responsible sports administrators must pursue this project quickly whilst the government is in power.

“As a life time sports supporter, I want to see the government’s promise materialise by this or next year.

“And I hope the government’s assurance would not be another lip-service,” he said.

Hite congratulated the Kurukuru squad for their achievement in the recent championship, and the government for realising the importance of sports, especially futsal.

The skill and athleticism of Catholic Regional College St Albans’s futsal team has again paid dividends with the college winning the Football Federation of Victoria State Championship.

Students in the Year 9/10 team won at the recent championships defeating schools from across Victoria to come out on top. The team beat Ilim College from Broadmeadows 9-5 in the final on the day to win the championship, adding to several year’s worth of state and regional Futsal awards achieved by the college.

The team’s coach, KJ Maan was ecstatic over the win.

“They are a great group of kids who are maintaining our school’s winning tradition,” Mr Maan said.

Application to coach/manager Premier-Super League 2009/10

Applications are called for Coaches and Managers expressing an interest in coaching a Northern Beaches Premier League team for the 2009/10 season. Applications should include your Futsal coaching history.

Coaches will be expected to possess a Level 1 Coaching Accreditation or demonstrate a success in coaching Futsal teams, meet the requirements of the NSW Government Working with Children Check, and be prepared to accept the “duty of care” responsibilities associated with the position.

All applicants must be prepared to make the commitment of time necessary to the successful preparation and participation at all Premier League games. In addition you will be required for compulsory attendance to monthly Coaches & Managers Meetings.

Mike Bushe
Vice President – Development /Administration.

Player Trials will take place on the the 25th and 26th of July at Curl Curl Community Centre, Phone Mario for more details on 0419 403 566

Click here for the Coach/Manager form and the player trials form (DOC)

Please note F4A won’t be updated regularly over the next few days. We hope to be back to normal soon.

News items from today will be posted over the next few days as time permits.

NEW SEASON DATES for each competition

• Box Hill – Thursday Men’s League: Thursday July 9 2009

• Box Hill – Friday Men’s League: Friday July 24 2009

• Camberwell – Sunday Night Men’s League: Sunday August 23 2009

• Carlton – Friday Mixed League: Friday July 24 2009

• Carlton North (Princes Hill) – Tuesday Mixed League: Tuesday September 8 2009

• Carlton North (Princes Hill) – Wednesday Mixed League: Wednesday September 9 2009

• Collingwood – Sunday Mixed League: Sunday August 30 2009

• Footscray – Thursday Mens’ League: Thursday July 23 2009

• Footscray – Monday Mixed League: Monday August 17 2009

• Glen Iris – Monday Men’s League: Monday August 31 2009

• Glen Iris – Tuesday Mixed League: Tuesday August 18 2009

• Glen Iris – Wednesday Men’s League: Wednesday November 4 2009

• Glen Iris – Thursday Mixed League: Thursday January 21 2010

• Hawthorn – Sunday Men’s League: Sunday September 13 2009

• Preston (NMIT) – Monday Men’s League: Monday July 13 2009

• Preston (NMIT) – Tuesday Mixed League: Tuesday July 21 2009

• Preston (NMIT) – Wednesday Mixed League: Wednesday July 22 2009

• Preston (PGSC) – Monday Men’s League: Monday August 17 2009

• Preston (PGSC) – Thursday Men’s League: Thursday September 24 2009

• Vermont South – Sunday Men’s Leagues: Sunday August 23 2009

• Vermont South – Tuesday Men’s Leagues: Tuesday August 25 2009

• Vermont South – Wednesday Men’s League: Wednesday July 29 2009

• Vermont South – Wednesday Mixed League: Wednesday July 29 2009

Notes:

1. If you are interested in entering your team into a league please ensure you submit an Expression of Interest via the Contact Us link. The earlier you express interest, the better! Once you express interest to enter a league we will inform you once a vacancy presents itself in the league of your choice.

2. Competition vacancies are updated on our website regularly so please stay tuned.

3. Futsal Super 5’s reserves the right to alter season commencement dates.

New Zealand sevens sensation and All Black in waiting, Victor Vito, showed he had a deft touch to match his bruising running ability at the NZ Maori Futsal Funday.

Victor Vito is an All Black in waiting and will be in the mix for the All Blacks end of year tour and the 2011 world cup, but today he showed he could also be a Futsal Player of note when he joined in the NZ Maori Futsal training.

Vito, at 6′3″ and at 107kg send shivers down the spine of a rugby opponent when confronted by him, the same is not lost on the Futsal pitch. He is quick, very quick for such a big guy and has a deft touch, as he showed with some flicks, touches and dummies. He scored a hatful of goals and showed his left foot is as dangerous as bruising runs.

It was great to see a star such as Victor turn up and have a run at Futsal and he joins the likes of Shane Bond (cricket), Julie Seymour (netball), Geoff Ellot (cricket), Brendan Laney (rugby) and Australian League star Sam Thaiday, who have turned out for Vikings Futsal.

The NZ Maori Futsal side held an open training and children’s Futsal fun day over the weekend.With the Eureka Trust Vikings Futsal Cup a month away, the NZ Maori Futsal side held a community open training session in Otara (Auckland) over the weekend.

The side is young on experience but is very skillful and will be stepping into the huge unknown when they debut at the event. The Maori side is looking forward to mixing it with Futsal heavyweights such as Queensland and NSW and will want to impress Vikings NZ coach Gui Costa at the event.

The NZ Maori side plans to also hop across the Tasman and contest the Vikings Championships in Sydney, Australia in January, before heading to Christchurch for the Senior NPC (National Provincial Championships) held over Waitangi Weekend in February.