Courtesy: Daily Mercury


1More is short on numbers

TOP team 1More will have to overcome a player shortage if it is to win the Vikings Futsal summer season men’s grand final tonight.

1More’s skilful indoor soccer line-up includes Leigh Daley, Dave Brennan and Whitsunday Miners outdoor play Heath Patton.

Goalkeeper Mathew Evans, despite having a knee injury, will have to play because of a shortage of players who qualify.

A replacement player who joined 1More late in the season did not play the four games needed to qualify for the finals.

1More takes on the aptly named Vintage team in tonight’s grand final at the Mackay State High School hall.

Most of the Vintage players are in their late 30s, with a couple turning 40 this year.

The exception is their young gun, Todd Willett.

However, they have turned back the clock to make the grand final, recording an impressive 10-4 semi-final win last week.

Four of the Vintage players will be shooting for their second grand final victory in five months.

Andrew Burston, Colin Mietzel, Stuart Kendrick and Mark Sleeman were all members of the Rangers O30 team that won last season’s outdoor grand final.

The other member of the Vintage team is Wanderers O30 player of the year Tony Weight.

In tonight’s women’s grand final, Daneas take on Incredibles.

The Incredibles outfit is a team of young girls, guided by the experienced Delvine Icardi.

The Daneas line-up includes a number of experienced Mackay open women reps.

The Vikings Futsal junior competition is also drawing to a close, with semi-finals starting this week.

The high school competition semi-finals include North Mackay High against Poppom Fresh and WAS 1 v WAS 2.

“We have also had players selected in Australian teams to travel overseas this year,” said Vikings Futsal spokeswoman Debbie Burston.

They include Shannon Willett in the under 19 youth girls to travel to Brazil, Charlie Geiger and Jeremy Williams in the under 15 squad to travel to England, Mathew Steggles and Harrison Brewitt in the under 14 squad to travel to the United States, and Kristan Predebon, Joanna Biddle and Caitlyn McMahon in the under 14 girls squad to travel to England.

The new futsal season is scheduled to start in March. For information phone 0448 170 710.

The regional futsal high school championships will begin on March 8.

Schools from the Whitsunday region will battle it out to compete in the North Queensland Champions of Champions event, to be held in Townsville on August 2.


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