Courtesy: Mordialloc Chelsea Leader


Hungry to earn respect in Mentone

12 Mar 10

by Jesse Wray-McCann

THE Australian National Futsal Championships in Canberra got off to a shaky start for Parkdale’s Jordan Michaelis.

But the Victorian under-16 team captain redeemed himself with a last-gasp winner over fierce rivals and tournament favourites New South Wales Thunder.

“I started the nationals off pretty slowly, mainly because I made a pretty crucial error in one of the early group games,” Michaelis said.

But that was all forgotten in the game against NSW Thunder, when he smashed a long-range effort in from the other end of the court to give the Victorians a dramatic 4-3 victory in the dying seconds.

“It was an amazing feel to score that winner because I really got the monkey off my back,” the 16-year-old said.

“It was especially great because dad was there watching and he had worked so hard to get me to the nationals.”

The Victorian team made it to the semi-finals, where they again encountered the NSW Thunder.

It was a reverse of fortunes though, with Michaelis’ side going down 4-3 to the eventual tournament winners. But Michaelis said they still held their heads high.

“NSW Thunder came into the nationals thinking they owned it, but then we were the only side to beat them, so they had a lot more respect for us in the semi,” he said.

Michaelis is this week’s Leader Sports Star nominee


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