Courtesy: The Northern River Echo


Futsal stars off to Brazil

In November six local young Futsal players are off on the trip of a lifetime to Brazil to represent Australia in the Futsal School of Excellence.

Kirsty McCann, 16, Damien Parker, 20, Nick Baker, 19, Shelby Parker, 16, Elliot Black, 17 and Jack Pearce, 17, will be heading to training camps in the mountains above Rio de Janeiro, training at the Grand Camary, Brazil Soccer Federation’s training camp.

Damien and Nick said it was a great honour to have been selected for the tour.

“Neither my sister Shelby or I have ever left Australia before and Brazil is the home of Futsal, the coaches there know so much,” Damien said.

Futsal is a form of five-a-side indoor football, played at breakneck speed, with no off-side.

“It’s more skills-based than outdoor football, size doesn’t make such a difference, you need to have more skills than outdoor,” Damien said.

The players will attend and academy and Futsal training centre in Belo Horizonte, where they will prepare for games against local schools of excellence teams. The boys will travel to the ancient city of Diamantina, where they will play an intercity tournament.

The four will then meet players of Athletico Futebol Club and attend a National League Football game before capping of the tour with a stay in Rio.

Shelby Parker and Kirsty McCann have been playing Futsal for the past three years where they have been a part of the highly successful Northern NSW under 16s and youth women’s national champions, travelling to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

The players are searching for sponsors. Anyone who can help should please contact Kathalina Parker on 0412 544 687.


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