Courtesy: Otago Daily Times


Talented player lives and breathes futsal

by Nick Rees

His passion for the round ball has been there since he could walk, kick and run.
Daniel Williamson (17) has been playing football for 13 years and discovered the game of futsal five years ago.

"I love it. It's fun, fast-paced and you get to show a lot more ball skills," he said.

Futsal is the Fifa-approved form of indoor football.

It has been around for more than 100 years but has only recently taken off in New Zealand.

Williamson, of Logan Park High School, has won the player of the year award at his school for the past four years, received the Golden Boot award for football and the school's most prestigious sports award - the John Letts award for sporting achievement.

Williamson said the highlight of his year was beating long-time rival Otago Boys' High School in the final of the Otago schools' futsal competition.

Williamson is certainly well travelled - his talent in the sport has allowed him to play in the United States, Australia and China.

The most memorable moment of his overseas tours was playing in Guangzhou, China.

"We played futsal on the rooftop of a building; it was unreal," he said.

He had got used to different cultures and languages but admitted it was not easy at first.

"It's a lot harder to get around not speaking the language," he said.

The quality of futsal in China was very good and he learned much while in Guangzhou, he said.

Williamson said he hoped to get right into the sport and secure an overseas futsal contract.

He especially liked the American style of the game.

His first taste of the American style came when he spent five days in the United States with the New Zealand under-16 team, playing tournaments in San Jose and Los Angeles.

Talking with Williamson, it quickly becomes apparent that the young man lives and breathes futsal - his current training schedule was "Monday nights and in my spare time".

It has not always been easy for the talented up-and-comer as he spent 12 months out of sport after a serious concussions.

He received a heavy knock while playing football and the blow forced him to take a year off sport and cost him the chance to go to the Milk Cup tournament in Ireland.

But he had no hesitation in returning to the round-ball code.

He wasted no time getting selected for the under-19 New Zealand schools team for its national schools championship tournament in Brisbane.

The team came second in 2009 and 2007 and not tasting victory had been a great source of frustration for Williamson.

"Definitely hoping for a win this time," he said.

The national schools futsal championships will be held in Brisbane this week, with the final scheduled for tomorrow.


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