OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF QUEENSLAND FUTSAL ASSOCIATION INC.A FOUNDER MEMBER OF SOCCER AUSTRALIA’S FUTSAL COMMISSION
AND
AFFILIATE AND MEMBER OF QUEENSLAND SOCCER FEDERATION.
AND
PROUDLY FUNDED BY QUEENSLAND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICE OF SPORT.
TO ALL OUR SUBSCRIBERS AND MEMBERS, ALL AT QUEENSLAND FUTSAL WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2003.INTERNATIONAL NEWSOCEANIA GETS DIRECT SOCCER QUALIFICATION FOR WORLD CUP
Although old news by now, the big news this week was FIFA awarding Oceania Soccer Federation a direct qualifying spot of the Soccer World Cup. This is great news for soccer but also great news for Futsal. If Australia is successful in winning the qualification spot for Germany 2006, then the spin off in marketing, sponsorship and player numbers will be considerable. It is noticeable that a number of journalists across Australia who specialize in ‘advertising’ other football codes, have been critical of the decision saying it makes it too easy for Australia to qualify. However I’m sure they are deep down aware of the inroads soccer will make if the national side does go to the World Cup.
As a member of the FIFA family, Futsal will be able to feed off that as well. As a second positive for us, it should also cement OCEANIA’s direct qualification for the FUTSAL WORLD CUP.
FUTSAL/INDOOR SOCCER WORLD NEWS BY STEVE TORRES
My apologies to Steve Torres, who produces the monthly Futsal newsletter FUTSAL/INDOOR SOCCER WORLD NEWS as I inadvertently used some of Steve’s copy in my last newsletter.
Steve’s newsletter is probably the most comprehensive written around the world dealing with Futsal, and I will be putting future issues on the home page for our members to read.
PLAYERS SELECTED TO TOUR IN MAY
We have had some phone calls to the office as who was selected for May 2003 touring teams at the National School Titles in Albury. If you go to the site:
www.isport.com.au/futsal/qld/AA/2003/PLAYERSSELECTED.docthe full list of players is written. If you name is there and you haven’t received a letter please contact BRIAN KEIGHTLEY on 07 38752600.
EXCHANGE PROGRAMME UPDATE
The exchange programme with Brazil is now in its fifth year and still going strong. LUKE STANMORE from Brisbane North has just returned home from his six months at Santo Antonio, while this Friday DEAN GARDEN from the Gold
Coast leaves for Brazil with GUSTAVO PIRES after Gus’s stay at ROBINA HIGH SCHOOL.
In July, TULIO SILVA will come to stay with DANIEL LIDDY from LOGAN FUTSAL CLUB and ST FRANCIS COLLEGE, with Danny heading for six months in Brazil January 2004.
The concept of the Exchange programme is to give players a cultural exchange, with the Queensland players spending six months at COLEGIO SANTO ANTONIO, a specialist Futsal school. In return the person they stay with in Brazil comes and spends six months in Queensland.
OVERSEAS FUTSAL TOURS COMING UP SINGAPORE FIVES(MEN) - JUNE 2003
BRAZIL - 9TH MAY 2003
CANADA - 9TH MAY 2003
JAPAN - 16TH MAY 2003
USA (under 18 Qld women) - 15TH JUNE 2003
Italy (Australian open women) - 20th JUNE 2003
Spain (Queensland Open ) 1st SEPTEMBER - 2003
NATIONAL NEWSENTRY BOOKLETS FOR NATIONAL SCHOOL TITLES
As mentioned previously, the national school titles for 2003 will be in TOOWOOMBA, a city situated about 110 kilometres west of Brisbane. The agenda for the tournament will be:
MONDAY 29TH Sept to WEDNESDAY 1st October
INTERSTATE SELECT SERIES over 13 age groups
THURSDAY 2nd October to Friday 2nd October
INTERSCHOOL SERIES over 7 age groups.
Entry booklets will be mailed/emailed in early February and overseas entries are welcome . New Zealand have already shown an interest in attending. If you wish to receive an entry booklet please email me back. If you are in Queensland please be aware that entry booklets will be handed out at the STATE SCHOOL TITLES in March and May.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM COACH
Please be aware that applications for the position of National Women’s Futsal coach close on the 31st December. If you wish to apply please email
george.dick@socceraustralia.com.au. The position will be immediately proactive, with a team to be selected at the NATIONAL CLUB TITLES to take part in international tournaments in Sardinia and Rome this June. A tour overseas will hopefully become an annual event on the women’s calendar. The tour will be either part or fully subsidized by SOCCER AUSTRALIA.
MEN’S TEAM SELECTIONS
With the replacement tournament for the SINGAPORE FIVES coming up in June in KUALA LUMPAR and the OCEANIA World Cup playoffs in September in Australia, a men’s squad will be selected at the Nationals. This will be a big year for the team with two major tournaments in the one year, with qualification for the World Cup the carrot at the end.
FUTSAL COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY 14TH JANUARY
The NFC will be holding its next meeting on the Tuesday of the national titles. Main items on the agenda will be the appointment of the national women’s coach and the employment of a national Futsal manager based at SOCCER AUSTRALIA headquarters.
STATE NEWSREGIONAL TITLES COMING UP
Organisation for the regional titles is underway, with most regions having selected sides . Auckland Futsal has also shown an interest in entering teams. On early figures we are expecting around 140 teams this year, up from last years 91. If you want further information on the regionals, contact your center administrator or BRIAN KEIGHTLEY on 38752600.
SUCCESSFUL WARWICK TRAINING CAMP HELD
Last weekend, the open men and women and the youth women attended a training camp at WARWICK, two hours south west of Brisbane. The weekend was a great success and we have decided to make it an annual event on the calendar. For further photos and reports go to www.qldfutsal.com.au.
STATE SCHOOL TITLES 2003
In 2002 around 660 school teams attended QUEENSLAND FUTSAL school tournaments across the state, including 439 to the main one in Brisbane. This year we are expecting around 750 teams.
Entry forms will be emailed/mailed in mid January to all our regular schools, however if your school has never entered before and wishes to, email me back and we’ll put you on the mailing list. Tournaments are held in Cairns, Townsville , Rockhampton , Hervey Bay, Brisbane and Gatton/Toowoomba. This year we will be running a new school tournament at Banora Point to take in the Gold Coast and Northern NSW schools.
LOGAN CITY CUP 2003
A reminder that the LOGAN CITY CUP will be held on the weekend of 8th and 9th February. 10,12 and 14 year boys will be on Saturday with 16 boys and 14 and 16 girls Sunday. Email me back to receive an entry form or contact your center administrator.
RESTART OF COMPETITIONS
A reminder to all our club players that most club competitions restart the week of Monday 6th January. If you are unsure at your own club, please contact your center administrator.
WHATS COMING UP-DATES TO REMEMBER14th/16th - January
National Club Titles - Sydney
8th/9th - February
South West Country Titles - Toowoomba
10th/28th - March
State Secondary School Titles - Brisbane
24th/25th - March
State Primary School Titles - Brisbane
31st - March
Special School Titles - Acacia Ridge
19TH/21ST - April
Regional Titles - Brisbane South
22nd/24th - April
Northern Universities Games - Gold Coast
HUMOUR A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS
According to Phil Neal, the Liverpool legend Bob Paisley used to say, 'if you want a bloody Christmas party, have it in the summer.' That curious logic is not lost on another former Liverpool man, Mark Wright.
Now gaffer at Chester City, Wright has cancelled Christmas at the club. He’s set to breathalyse his squad. And he added: "We are training on Christmas Eve but I think it’s right that we will be training on Christmas Day as well." According to Phil Neal, the Liverpool legend Bob Paisley used to say, 'if you want a bloody Christmas party, have it in the summer.' That curious logic is not lost on another former Liverpool man, Mark Wright.
Now gaffer at Chester City, Wright has cancelled Christmas at the club. He’s set to breathalyse his squad. And he added: "We are training on Christmas Eve but I think it’s right that we will be training on Christmas Day as well."
LAST JOKE FOR THE YEAR
"They have been in Barcelona since Sunday night, which is… let's see - Sunday night, Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday – yes, five nights. And that's a long time to be waiting for a match." – Mark Lawrenson on Newcastle and his inability to count.
THAT’S ALL FOLKS…..SEE YOU NEXT YEAR !!!
