Courtesy: Queensland Times


Teens set for futsal adventure

by Chris Garry

5th November 2010

TWO 16-year-old best friends will embark on a sun-soaked trip of a lifetime next year to represent Australia on the world stage.

Ipswich’s Ashleigh Knight and Katelyn Muckert will travel to Brazil next year to play for Australia in the Futsal Women’s Junior World Championships.

The two teenagers, who go to Bremer State High, are strikers, both started playing futsal at the same time and will undoubtedly room together on the trip, which starts in August.

“When I found out that I was in the team, I was excited, but then I realised Katelyn was, too, and we both just went a little crazy,” Knight said. “We’re best friends so it makes the trip heaps better to do it together.”

The pair will play matches against rival nations, primarily in Rio Di Janeiro, and will be coached by the best Australia has to offer. “I want to hit the beach a lot but probably the most exciting part will be how much we will learn,” Knight said.

Knight and Muckert have both played futsal for four years and have become regular members of the Queensland women’s team.

“It’s better than soccer. It’s full on. There’s always something happening in futsal,” Knight said.

Muckert said she hoped to use the trip to become a better player.

“Being taught by professional coaches will be amazing,” Muckert said.

“It will be an awesome experience to represent Ipswich and our school on the world stage.”

Muckert said she hoped by the time she graduated from school, there would be a women’s futsal league for her to join and play professionally. “I’ve always wanted to be good at playing this game. I just want to represent Australia and be the best I can at this sport so hopefully there is a professional league or something I can join,” Muckert said.

For the teenagers’ mothers, the trip is proving a gift and a curse.

The trip to Brazil will cost each family $7000 .

Bremer High is organising a fund raiser and the girls’ mothers are looking for business sponsorships to fund the trip as well as holding a bare-foot bowls fund raiser.

“I’m a bit worried about them going over there without us, but they will be part of a big group with a lot of adults,” Ashleigh’s mother Shannette said.

“What’s more worrying is how much it is going to cost, but it’s worth the sacrifice to see them enjoy this opportunity.”

If you would like to sponsor the girls’ adventure, contact Shannette Knight on 0419 702 309.


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