The Sydney F-League unable to kick off (NSW)
Sad news for Futsal fans in Sydney
The Sydney F-League is saddened to announce that the inaugural season will not kick off as anticipated. The entered clubs were notified this morning of the turn of events as two potential entrants advised that they would not be applying for a place.
For all of the talk that suggested people wanted to play futsal all year round, it seems that the long held belief that futsal is a simply diversion while football is not being played holds true for most.
“The Sydney F-League was designed for the futsaller” a disappointed Paul Respicio said. “Unfortunately, it seems that this league can’t compete with enticements of football. For someone who pays to play football, even the price was equivalent.”
“With six month notice given of the intention to start the competition and three months notice of the entry deadline we fully expected to be able to find enough futsallers to make this competition a reality.”
On the whole, The Sydney F-League is roundly disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm from the Sydney futsal public to embrace this competition. Most of the negative comments seemed from those who wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Suggestions of alternate times and days were all aimed at allowing players to compete in The Sydney F-League while not having to miss football.
“It was never our intention to provide a competition for footballers who like futsal. We wanted futsal players to be able to play all year round – and in our case, at a high level and playing the game how it was intended to be played.” Respicio said.
“I need to thank Dural Sport and Leisure Centre for giving us a venue. Dural’s support of futsal continues to be unwavering.” Respicio said. “To the entered clubs and their players that have been disappointed, we offer our heartfelt apologies. For those individuals that responded to our player call, we regret that we will not be able to aid in helping your futsal dream become reality.”
“I would also like to thank those groups who were set to back the league with sponsorship. We hope that we can work together to get this competition off the ground in 2011.”
For further information please contact sydney@f-league.com.au
Click here for the original media Release (PDF)
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Guys
sorry that it did not take off but surely you saw it coming. People were interested, but the cost is INCREDIBLY High!. You pay to play Football…most of the men that would take place in the F-league get paid to play football. Now $5,000 divided by a squad of say 12 players is over $400, an amount players don’t want to pay! They already pay this to play summer futsal. It is not my opinion…it is a fact shwon by the lack of takers….try again!
Paul, Scott and the F-League team. I understand and share your disappointment. Thank you for all the hard work you put in. It was well thought out, well planned and I thought would be well supported.
I don’t think the $5,000 was too much. I don’t think the players should pay anything either, therefore the $5,000 needs to be paid by the clubs through appropriate sponsorship.
We need to get this fantastic sport to the next level and think a little more professionally
It’s going to be hard to get the initial momentum, but once we get going the benefits will be there for all to see.
So fellas thanks again for a well thought out and professional attempt to get something going. So much appreciated.
im sorry brian, but i must agree with lefty on this one.
the cost was just too high, Clubs have enough trouble as it is funding the premier league, They dont want to get more in debt for a winter comp either.
Yes it is the right direction we should be taking, but to get the sport under way the cost should be at its bare minimum first year.
I’m sorry this didn’t get off the ground this time either.
Perhaps as Freddy says the first year needs to be run as cheaply as possible to get it up and running and once it is established look at increasing the costs each year, progressively.
Anyway, it will give all the interested clubs plenty of time to get sponsorship & squads in place for 2011.
I wish you success with the idea and would love to be involved in the future!
This is very disappointing to hear. I too agree with Brian – $5000 is NOT that much money. Sounds like some people don’t want to put the hard yards in…
Good luck for the future!
I agree that it was sad not to see this get off the ground. IMO the $5k was just to ensure the teams were serious and cover costs. A football club I’m involved in raised $25k for a team. So it is possible, even when times are tight.
If a club struggles to find the $5k, then they would also most likely be teams without bibs or playing with only 1 keeper shirt and yet they want to play a ‘professional’ competition. Either the teams are serious or they are not, the $5k was not the real cause for not making the grade.
Is there really a market for the “all-year-round” futsaller?
I think there is but it requires a club to be serious about professionalism.
It looks like there were less than a handful of clubs interested; so my question still remains…
S.Hitstirrer,
There definitely IS a market. There was a solid interest from plenty of individual players but the problems came when administrators had to put in the hard work and raise the entrance fee etc.
If we could get the right people running the clubs then the F-League would take off in a serious way.
Where are these people though? Aren’t they already running Premier/Super league clubs?
I’m not sure that there’s 80/90 players out yet there of sufficient quality for F League who want to jeopardise their outdoor game (for whom most are probably paid to some degree).
I’s all down to player’s choice really; basically we still have a culture here in Sydney of football in the winter and Futsal in the summer.
At the risk of sounding boring and not living to my name, I have to agree with you Simon…