QUEENSLAND FUTSAL NEWSLETTER
FRIDAY 31/01/03

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF QUEENSLAND FUTSAL ASSOCIATION
(back copies available on the website below)
WEBSITE www.qldfutsal.com.au

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.

LAST REMINDER?.
GET YOUR LOGAN CITY CUP ENTRIES IN NOW !!
CLOSES MONDAY !

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Ronaldo Attributes World Cup Goal to 'Playing a Lot of Futsal'

RIO DE JANEIRO (1-12-03) - FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo attributed a goal scored during the 2002 World Cup to skills developed playing Futsal.

The Brazilian star was asked specifically about a goal against Turkey, which the interviewer described as a "stunner".

It was the play in which Ronaldo toe-punched his shot successfully past several Turkish defenders when there was seemingly no opening.

It was a difficult move because my way was blocked," Ronaldo told fifa.com. "Nobody expected me to do it. It's a difficult technique to shoot the ball with the point of the toe and you don't see many players try it.

"But it was just instinctive, and I owe it to playing a lot of futsal when I was younger."

This isn't the first time that Ronaldo has paid tribute to Futsal. He said during an interview at the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. that Futsal was his "first love". In fact, all of the Brazilian greats, from Pele to Ronaldo to Zico, grew up playing the sport.

See the complete story at fifa.com/Service/MR_A/50007_E.html

(Thanks to Tim Sheldon from Futsal On Line for this)

PAN PACIFIC MASTERS DATES CHANGE
The Pan Pacific Masters games, previously known as the ASPAC MASTERS and played on the Gold Coast has changed from its normal spot in September, to 6th to 14th November 2004. The 2003 masters are in San Fransisco , and the tournament will rotate between the two cities. Futsal has been part of the tournament since the beginning and over 10,000 athletes from all sports attended last years competition.

Further information on www.mastersgames.com.au

OVERSEAS FUTSAL TOURS COMING UP
SINGAPORE FIVES(MEN) - JUNE 3rd to 6th 2003
BRAZIL - 18th MAY to 3rd June 2003
CANADA - 9TH MAY to 23rd May 2003
JAPAN - 16TH MAY to 1st June 2003
USA (under 18 Qld women) - 15TH JUNE 2003
Italy (Australian open women) - 22nd JUNE to 6th July 2003
Spain (Queensland Open ) - 1st SEPTEMBER 2003

NATIONAL NEWS

PLAYERS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL TEAMS
Lists of players selected in national select teams at the January national titles can be viewed on the Queensland Futsal website. www.qldfutsal.com.au. Click on the library on the left and go to NATIONAL TOUR SELECTIONS file. If your name and is there and you haven?t received a letter, please email the newsletter back.

ADIDAS SPONSOR SOCCER AUSTRALIA
ADIDAS has announced sponsorship of Soccer Australia for a few more years (see article below, full article at www.qldfutsal.com.au ) This is also a boost for Futsal as it means our national senior futsal sides will also continue to be provided with quality Futsal gear by Adidas.

Thursday 23 January 2003

Following FIFA's decision to grant a 2006 World Cup berth to Oceania, ADIDAS Australia and Soccer Australia are pleased to announce a new long-term sponsorship agreement.
The four-year agreement represents a continuation of the successful 11-year relationship between Adidas and Soccer Australia. The multi-million dollar sponsorship will benefit all teams under Soccer Australia's banner, including the Socceroos, Olympic (Under-23), youth (Under-20 and Under 17?s) and womens? teams (seniors and Under-19).
Soccer Australia will not disclose the specific details of the partnership, however it can confirm that the agreement involves a seven-figure cash sum over four years, in addition to substantial product support for our national teams and potential merchandising royalties.

QANTAS ANNOUNCE SPONSORSHIP OF SOCCER AUSTRALIA
Following on from the ADIDAS deal, QANTAS, the major Australian international air carrier, have today Thursday announced a seven figure sponsorship of SOCCER AUSTRALIA. The good news is that this sponsorship includes the men's and women's national Futsal sides. To quote from the press release (for full text go to www.socceraustralia.com.au )
Our support will even extend to the rapidly growing sport of Futsal (indoor soccer) and include the national team?.
The Naming Rights agreement involves all of Soccer Australia's national teams - the Qantas Socceroos, Qantas Matildas, Qantas Olyroos (under-23s), Qantas Young Socceroos, Qantas Joeys, Qantas Under-19s and the Qantas Futsal national team. ?

SOCCER NUMBER ONE SPORT IN AUSTRALIA DESPITE PROBLEMS

Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
It's No.1 footy code
January 23, 2003

WHILE the game may have problems at the top level, soccer in Australia still dwarfs its football rivals in terms of player numbers.
Participation rates for soccer, AFL, rugby league and rugby union in 2002 obtained by The Daily Telegraph show the round ball game has a staggering 202,120 more registered players nationwide than its closest rival, Australian rules.
Soccer had 618,854 registered players running around last year, compared with 416,734 for Australian rules, whose figures are boosted by juniors in their Auskick development program.
Both rugby league (158,977) and rugby union (148,750) trail their rivals.

YOUNG QUEENSLAND REFEREE PERFORMS WELL AT NATIONALS
After playing for Queensland for the last two years at the national titles, Andrew Jacquin from Brisbane decided that he would go to the nationals as a referee.
He had the opportunity to referee international teams (there were U12 boys teams from New Zealand as well as the Solomon Islands) along with the best players from the various states teams. Andrew impressed everyone with his performances with the whistle and his handling of the games and was rewarded with appointment to the U14 boys final. This is a game given to the top Junior referee and rarely given to someone in their first year at nationals. He continued his good performances during the Club competition and was then rewarded with the final of the U15 boys. A big achievement considering he is only 16 years old. From all reports both finals were well controlled by Andrew.
At the referees presentation at the end of the titles he was awarded the Wayne Frost Memorial trophy which is judged by the other referees and is based not only on performance on games but attitude, professionalism, co-operation with other referees and officials and willingness to listen and learn from the other referees, Well done Andrew and congratulations on your efforts at the national titles
(thanks to leo tottenham for the article)

FUTSAL PROTEGES SELECTED FOR UNDER 17 NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
Congratulations must go to Dane Richardson, Mario Aparicio and Ben Griffin from Brisbane who were this week selected for the under 17 Australian Soccer team (the joeys) to play at next weeks OCEANIA playoffs. All three started with Queensland Futsal at a young age and represented Queensland Futsal many times at national club and school tournaments. Mario attends ST LAURENCES COLLEGE, South Brisbane where he is taught and coached by ANDREW KENDALL, coach of the NEW ZEALAND men?s national Futsal team, and Queensland Futsal youth team. Dane attends another regular FUTSAL SCHOOL TITLES competitor, RUNCORN HIGH as does Ben who is at MARIST BROTHERS, ASHGROVE. Dane also is the next door neighbour of RICHARD LITTLER, the newly appointed women?s national Futsal coach, so CACTUS COURT, RUNCORN has definitely been put on the map of the Australian soccer/Futsal world this week.
Good luck to all the boys.

STATE NEWS

LOGAN CITY CUP
If you haven't done anything about entering the LOGAN CITY CUP on 8th and 9th February, you need to do it now. Email Nicola on n.zammit@qldfutsal.com.au if you haven't already sent your paperwork in.

WHAT SCHOOL OR CLUB ARE OUR BEST PLAYERS FROM?
While watching the open women and men play at the national titles I thought it would be interesting to do a study of how these players became involved in the sport at a young age; through a school programme or soccer?
Of the 28 players across 3 teams ( two women and one mens) looked at, 13 players came to futsal from their soccer club and 15 represented their school in Futsal. The schools represented were ST. FRANCIS MARSDEN (3), SHAILER PARK (3), BROWNS PLAINS (2), and then Trinity College Beenleigh, Padua College, Harristown High, Maroochydore High, St. Ursalas College, Westside Goodna and St James the Valley one each . So Paul McKarzel and Garry Kay? what is the secret to your success ?

WHATS COMING UP-DATES TO REMEMBER

8th/9th February - Logan City Cup - Cornubia
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
Well I'm finally clean out of jokes? if anybody out there has any email me.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS?..SEE YOU NEXT WEEK