Courtesy: The Cairns Post


Bigger honours await futsal hopefuls

by Jacob Grams

January 16, 2017

WORLD Cup honours are on the line for the top Far North women’s players leading the charge of several teams from the region at the National Futsal Championships this week.

Players from four youth teams will put themselves on the Federation of Australian Futsal elite pathway at the event in Adelaide, while two men’s and one women’s team are also set to compete.

The Open women finished second at the International Club Challenge and are vying for a place in Australia’s squad for the 2017 Women’s World Cup in Spain in November.

Teams have been training at Redlynch Central Sports Stadium and Cairns futsal director of coaching Tony Cifuentes said they were “looking all right” ahead of the nationals.

“I think we took three or four teams away to the last nationals, but this time our seniors have jumped on board for the first time,” he said.

One of the men’s sides are fresh out of the youth system and Cifuentes said the group were primed for a good performance, having spent two years playing and training together here and abroad.

“They’re a very talented side. They’ve been going well the past couple of years under coach Ron Leporati,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see how they measure up, particularly against the older teams.

“They’re still learning but they should match up well.”



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