Queensland F.A. Newsletter

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

JAPANESE MENS TEAM PLAY AUSTRALIA DURING REGIONALS
The big news of the week is that the Japanese National team is coming to play Australia during the regional titles. Games versus Australia are scheduled for Friday night 8.00 pm Saturday night 8.00 pm and Sunday morning 10.00 am. The Japanese will also play the Queensland Vikings 10.00 am Saturday morning and Sunday night 8.00 pm.
The games are free and all are welcome to attend and entry is free. More details will be put up on the website Monday and with some luck I’ll get a newsletter out next week with further details.

BRAZIL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE TOUR NEWS
Good news for those going on the May Centre of Excellence tour. On the first Sunday after we arrive we will be going to watch Cruzeiro at home to Corinthians in the soccer national league. So expect a crowd of near 100,0000.
The itinery is now on the homepage www.qldfutsal.com.au , as is the list of the touring party .This is one of the best programmes we have and gets better every year.

CANADA TOUR NEWS
The tour itinery is nearly completed, with us only waiting on some final details from Montreal. The team list and itinery will be up on the homepage by next Monday.

JAPANESE TOUR NEWS
Japan Futsal have nearly finalized the itinery for the under 14 boys tour of Japan in May. The head of Japan Futsal, Mr. Sakae, will be at our state regional titles at Easter, and will be meeting with Brian Keightley to finalise the tour. At this stage it will be across 5 cities in the Tokyo area. A full list of the touring party id now on the homepage www.qldfutsal.com.au

SOCCER AUSTRALIA NFC TO FULLY FUND WOMEN’S TOUR OF ITALY
The Australian Women’s tour to Italy is now going to be totally funded by Soccer Australia via the National Futsal Commission. This is great news for women’s Futsal As for the first time players don’t have to put their hand in their pocket to tour. Soccer Australia is picking up all costs including pre trip training. The team will also be a guest team competing at the regional club titles for training and this will include one display game against the Queensland Women.

OVERSEAS FUTSAL TOURS COMING UP
BRAZIL - 16th MAY to 3rd June- 2003
CANADA - 9TH MAY to 23rd May - 2003
JAPAN - 16TH MAY to 1st June - 2003
Italy (Australian open women) - 22nd JUNE to 6th JULY - 2003
Ecuador/New Zealand - 10th to 24th August - 2003
Austria/Germany - 20th Nov to 11th Dec - 2003
Brazil - 21st Nov to 12th Dec - 2003
Canada - 19th Nov to 10th Dec - 2003

NATIONAL NEWS

CRAWFORD REPORT INTO SOCCER RELEASED
The Crawford report into the administration and governance of soccer in Australia, was released today. Commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission and Federal Government, it is the suggested blueprint for the future of soccer in this country. Soccer Australia has called a meeting on stakeholders for the 10th May of discuss and decide on the recommendations.
From futsal’s perspective, the recommendations are a Futsal working party set up in each state, with a national Futsal working party elected from these. The national Futsal committee will have membership and one vote (out of around 20) into the election of the Soccer Australia Board. It was recognized that Futsal has no direct membership or say in the national soccer body.
The report wants the recommendations implemented by 2005.

SOCCER AUSTRALIA TO FUND NATIONAL LEAGUE
Good news for the National league round on the 25th to 27th April. Soccer Australia are going to fund the league including travel allowances for the out of town teams. Soccer Australia has also organized the televising of the league, to be packaged and passed on to a station to be named. Queensland is represented by the Vikings in men and women.

NATIONAL SCHOOL TITLES NOW IN BRISBANE/GOLD COAST
The national school titles scheduled for the first week of October , have now been transferred to Brisbane. It was decided that it would be easier for the other states if the tournament were in the capital city. They will be played at Beenleigh, Logan and Runaway Bay centres. We have already issued entry booklets but will reissue after the April school holidays.

STATE NEWS

CENTRE ADMINISTRATORS NEEDED
Queensland Futsal is looking for paid, part time centre administrators in a number of areas. The work can vary from 5 hours a week to 35 hours a week, and a successful administrator can end up in fulltime employment with Queensland Futsal. The job is suitable for a person who enjoys mixing with others and loves Futsal.
In Brisbane we need centre administrators for Toowong, Capalaba, Ipswich, Brisbane Central and Jindalee.
In the country we need administrators in Childers, Kingaroy, Gympie, Stanthorpe, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast
Phone enquiries can be directed to Paul Wadsworth on 38752600 or email qldfutsal@qldfutsal.com.au

REGIONAL CLUB DRAW
As at today we have 144 entries for the regional titles, up from last years 91 by near 60 %! Due to this increase we have had to move to 4 centres and 15 courts, so please be patient and bear with us.
The draw for the regional titles will be up on the homepage at the latest by 8.00 am this Saturday 12th April. If you wish to see the list of teams entered go to the website www.qldfutsal.com.au and click on regional teams at the top.

OFFICE OPEN GOOD FRIDAY
Staff will be at the office on Good Friday from 12.00 pm to 7.00 pm for people wishing to purchase gear, get id cards done, picking up playing kits or to sort out any late problems. We will also have for sale indoor shoes and other gear. Please note that this weekend on both days the office/centre will be open 9.00 am to 6.00 pm .Enquiries to 38752600.

MARCH SCHOOL TITLES SEE 31 % INCREASE !
554 teams competed in this years march school titles, in a competition lasting three weeks. Although we have no official confirmation but this must close to now being the biggest Futsal competition in the world, especially when one remembers the regional sections are still to come in May. A pleasing result was the 73 under 14 girls teams, equating to around 580 girls in this age group taking part in the tournament.
Regional tournaments in Cairns, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Roma, Gatton and Lismore are still to be held in May. If you would like an entry form to any of these tournaments please email me back for one.

QUEENSLAND SCHOOL RESULTS
All the results of the school titles, from both north and south Queensland are in a news article at www.qldfutsal.com.au . The list of qualifiers for the Champion of Champions is also there.
Special congratulations to Robina High School from the Gold Coast who picked up the ‘double’ of open boys and open girls.

STATE SCHOOL TEAM SELECTIONS
Letters notifying players of selection in state school representative teams will be sent out by Wednesday this week. We will also put these lists on the website next week. This years national school titles will be in Brisbane, Queensland from 29th September to 3rd October.

NEW DIRECTOR OF COACHING ARRIVES FRIDAY
Queensland’s new Director of Coaching, Gui Costa, will arrive from Brasil with his wife Chantalle, this Friday. He will be at the regional titles carrying out selections , so you will get the chance to meet him there. Gui has had experience in both Brazil and Japan coaching Futsal , and has also worked as a coach with Cruzeiro soccer club. On top of being state Director of Coaching, Gui will also be in charge of the DAL PONTE academy.

DAL PONTE SHOES HAVE ARRIVED
Our first shipment of DAL PONTE shoes arrived last week. The shoes will be for sale at the regionals, but if you want them earlier come to the office or ring Margaret on 38752600 and she can post them to you.

ENTRIES FOR UNIVERSITY GAMES
Have you got your entries in for the university games? The games are held 22nd and 23rd April in both men’s and women’s at Beenleigh Centre. Enquiries to Nicola on 38752600.

SPECIAL SCHOOL TITLES
The state special school titles will be held at Acacia Ridge on Wednesday 28th May. Hervey Bay, Gatton and Toowoomba have already rung about entering so I hope we get a strong Brisbane presence. Enquiries again to Nicola.

BUY YOUR ENTERTAINMENT BOOK THROUGH QUEENSLAND FUTSAL

Entertainment Book Queensland is a sponsor of the DAL PONTE VIKINGS

You can now buy your Entertainment Book 2003 through Queensland Futsal. The book includes numerous discount vouchers totaling over $10,000 in value.
Last year thousands of people saved as much as 50% at their favourite restaurants, cinemas, hotels, the arts, and sporting events!
For details of restaurants, cafes and take-aways included see the flyer in the Library at http://www.isport.com.au/futsal/qld/AA/2003/BrisbaneCityFlyer03.doc.

Attractions include Greater Union Megaplex Cinemas, Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World and Movie World to name a few. Hotels and holiday packages include Radisson Resorts, Hamilton Island, Dunk & Brampton Island, Hayman Island Resort, Crown Towers Hotel, P & O Cruises to name a few.

The books will also be on sale at all of the centres during the regional club titles, and at state office. Otherwise ring Margaret at the office to have one sent out.

WHATS COMING UP-DATES TO REMEMBER

19TH/21ST April - Regional Titles - Brisbane South
22nd/23RD April - Northern Universities Games - Gold Coast
25th/27th April - Men’s and Women’s National League - Sydney
5th/7th May - Central Qld School Titles - Rockhampton
12th/14th May - Far North School Titles - Cairns
12th/15th May - South West School Titles - Gatton
19th/20th May - Hervey Bay School Titles - Hervey Bay
26th/27th May - North West School Titles - Mt Isa
28th May - Special School Titles - Acacia Ridge

HUMOUR

Thanks to rivals.net for this.

(Some memorable quotes from well known English coach Howard Wilkinson).

"When I arrived, Tore Andre Flo was like a baby giraffe who'd just popped out on to the veldt. But he's got stronger."
"We have good players on paper, but paper players win paper cups."
"A lucky goal or the run of the ball can be triggers but they can only be triggers if you have gunpowder."
And his final profound statement : ""Relegations don't do anybody any good."

JOKE ONE
Pele, the greatest star of Brazil, Beckenbauer the hero of Germany, and Paul Gasgoigne of England fame were all out fishing in the middle of a lake one day. Pele turns to the other two and says 'I wouldn't mind a BRAHMA (beer)' and gets out of the boat and walks 50 metres across the water to the store.
On his return, Beckenbauer turns around and says ' I'm thirsty now, I think I'll go and get a stein of lager. ' and gets out of the boat and also walks across the water.
Gazza is very impressed by this and seeing himself at the same level as the other two says. ' I think I'll go and get a pint of bitter' . He gets out of the boat, takes a step and immediately falls headfirst into the lake.'
Pele turns to Franz Beckenbauer and says ' Do you think we should have told him where the rocksare ? '

JOKE TWO
Two Manchester United fans and a Liverpool fan going out deepsea fishing one day. Getting a strong bite all three have to pull on the rod to bring in the huge catch, which turns out to be a mermaid.
'You've caught me fair and square' say the mermaid 'so you're each allowed to make one wish .' The first Manchester fan says 'I'd like to Double my intelligence.' The mermaid waves her tail and he immediately begins reciting the Works of Shakespeare.
The second Manchester lad, most impressed, says ' I'd like you to triple my intelligence. '
The mermaid waves her tail and he suddenly begins speaking in 7 different languages.
The Liverpool fan, even more impressed, says ' I'd like you to quadruple my intelligence ! '
The mermaid looks at him and ponders and says ' Are you sure about this ? It could have very big ramifications and you may not like it . '' No ' he says ' go ahead, I want it! 'So he turns into a Manchester United fan.

JOKE THREE
On finishing his playing career, the great Liverpool player Kenny Dalgleish decided to do a degree in psychology. On his first day the professor in charge asked around the room a series of questions to get an idea of the knowledge of his new students.
'Kenny' the professor says ' We have diagnosed a patient with symptoms of constantly walking back and forth quickly, irrationally and without warning screaming at the top of his lungs, then suddenly switching to remorse and grief and sitting in a chair crying and weeping aloud and waving his arms around. What treatment would you recommend?'
Kenny grins and says 'That's easy .....
Give up coaching Liverpool!'

THAT’S ALL FOLKS…..SEE YOU NEXT WEEK