As the 2011 National Futsal Championship gets underway, NSW 11s Thunder is in the final stages of its preparations for the tournament which is held in Canberra.

“This year’s under-11 NSW Thunder side has come together from a number of Premier and Super League teams and academies,” NSW Thunder under-11 Head Coach, Jim Apostolovski said.

I have been involved in the sport for a number of years and every year we seem to be getting better all round players, in terms of technique, vision, composure, sharpness and general game awareness. The majority of such development is evident from the nurturing through relevant academies within the clubs”

Apostolovski plays an integral part of Sutherland Shire Futsal Association, where junior and youth academies have been the norm for a number of years and have seen many players go onto represent NSW.

Small sided games is an important ingredient that the FFA implemented and Futsal contributes immensely in terms of the principles that the FFA have been vigilant in implementing as highlighted by Apostolovski.

“This year’s crop of under-11’s talent highlights all the positives that FFA has implemented, including FNSW, in terms of delivery plans and processes that is deployed across many centers and Futsal clubs. No doubt a few names will become household names in future years from the current crop of players. The 2010 under-12 NSW Boys Thunder had two players selected to represent FFA Australia under-13 boys who traveled to Asia,” Apostolovsk continued.

“Futsal elements have played an important part in these young players development with regard to close range decision making, furthering the principles of trapping, passing and moving into space and also their composure on the ball.”

“The players and parents are excited with the coming week in Canberra. The opening ceremony, the match ups with different states and teams from different countries! What a fabulous week it promises to be.”