Courtesy: Sunshine Coast Daily


Futsal and soccer have Viking between rock and a hard place

by Jay Buchan

14th Apr 2013

LACHLAN Harwood's skill with a football has presented him with some amazing opportunities.

The fear is one day he will have to decide between them.

Harwood leaves for China on Monday as part of the Vikings Australia youth (under 20) team on a two-week tour.

The Collingwood Park 17-year-old is not sure of the itinerary but is looking forward to his first trip overseas.

"I've never been overseas before so it will be a new experience," he said.

Harwood will get the chance to see sights including the Great Wall of China, but doesn't expect the competition on court to be any holiday.

"I think it will be pretty tough," he said.

"They'll have different experience and a different mentality.

"I reckon it will be fast and well organised."

Harwood, one of the youngest in the team, is keen to make a telling contribution.

"I hope to be in good form and play well," he said. "Do my best and help the team and have a good experience in another country."

Harwood was picked in the Australian Youth squad after impressing for Queensland at the national titles in Townsville last year.

He plays club futsal at Ipswich Girls Grammar School every Wednesday evening.

Harwood is also an accomplished outdoor soccer player.

A former Ipswich Knights junior, Harwood is a midfielder for Western Pride in the National Premier League under-20 Queensland competition.

He has been playing futsal since 2010 and fears he will one day have to choose between the two.

But don't ask him which he'd choose at the moment.

"I might have to give one up," Harwood conceded. "But I can't really choose between them."

His goal in football is to become a professional, which is an difficult dream as a futsal player in Australia.

But futsal has provided him the chance to go to place like China and Brazil, so it would be hard to give up.

Harwood was also picked in a team to tour Brazil later this year but, having committed to going to China, couldn't afford both.

Mind you, Harwood's opportunities in football have also increased since joining the force in the new NPL.

"It's so much more professional than the club set up," the former Brisbane Force player said.

"It's more strict and organised."

Harwood hopes it will provide the springboard to a possible opportunity in the A-League some day in the future.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com