Source:Boxscore

Mainland Futsal goalkeeper Noran Abaza is a specialist devoted to her sport, so dedicated in fact that she’s left New Zealand behind to join the Australian Women’s F-League.

After taking up the game at 21 years old she started her first match as a fill-in goalkeeper for a match in Christchurch at QEII Stadium and hasn’t looked back since.

“I love futsal because it is fast paced, requires greater skills and concentration, players get more touches on the ball and it is end to end action,” Abaza says.

“As a keeper you have to be switched on all the time, and you are always in the game. I also play football and had been playing it at a high level up until June when I quit for the season in order to train and concentrate on the F-League.”

Abaza says the F-League is similar in format to New Zealand Football’s ASB National League, played over three series in three different locations.

“The F-League is played over three series in three different states which is great as it brings high level futsal to different communities,” she says. “Like any elite competition players do get tired, especially with this league as we play five or six games over two days, so towards the end of the weekend players start to tire. In saying that, everyone in the league is very fit and they are all professional athletes who know how to recover properly in order to be 100 per cent for every game.”

Abaza says the standard of the F-League is incredibly high and is providing her with excellent opportunities to improve and learn.

“This league really is the best of the best. It is great to have the elite futsal players from around Australia competing against each other,” she says. “The standard of play is very physical, quick, technical, structured and of a very high intensity. The F-League is a great opportunity to showcase the women’s game and is a fantastic platform to launch a professional league in the near future.”

When Abaza first moved to the F-League she was playing for Sutherland, but has since made the switch to league leaders Parramatta Blues. She says she made the change after finding Sutherland wasn’t the right fit.

“Sutherland have a very young side with great potential leading into the future and I wish them all the best and look forward to watching them progress as a club and as individuals. Sutherland wasn’t the right environment for me to keep developing as a player and to continue heading where I want to in my career.

“I was lucky enough that a team like Parramatta wanted to sign me. They are a great side with very talented players and they have a great coach with a lot of knowledge about the game.

“The girls have made me feel very welcome and at home and I’m really looking forward to the final series and hopefully continuing our good performances and win the F-League.”

While she is on-board to help guide her side to the title, Abaza says she is also hoping to make the trip back to New Zealand for the nationals at the end of the year to help Mainland win their second championship title in a row.

“At the moment my sights are set on cementing a spot in the Futsal Ferns when it is named and to compete at the FIFA World Cup, which will hopefully be announced soon,” she says. “I would also like to be back playing in the F-League again next year and then go and play overseas in Spain or Brazil. Outside of playing I will be looking at getting my coaching licence with the hope that once I retire I can coach the national side.

“Once I graduate from university next year I would like to work for NZF in developing the women’s game and help create the best pathways for youth and women in order for New Zealand to compete on the international stage.”





FP Staff --> info@futsalplanet.com