Courtesy: New Zealand FA Web Site


NZF Futsal National League resumes

February 11, 2011

AUCKLAND – The New Zealand Football Futsal National League is set to continue this weekend with unbeaten pacesetters Maccabi Hakoah and Capital City Futsal sitting on top of the table as it heads into Series Two at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.

The inaugural national league looks to be a three way battle between the powerful Sydney-based Maccabi, Capital City Futsal and Auckland’s East City, though Football South Futsal will be a tough proposition on their home court following their promising debut on the national scene in Series One in Wellington last November.

With their direct style, co-leaders Maccabi were at times in a class of their own over their five games during Series One. Only Capital City Futsal (0-0) and East City (3-4) got near the Australians in Wellington as they smacked home 30 goals in five matches. With influential Daniel Fulton and golden boot contender Jordan Mundell returning from NSW duty following the Australian Futsal Nationals in Canberra in early January, they will be a tough proposition throughout the weekend.

Brian Blellock’s Capital City Futsal – also unbeaten after Series One – will be looking forward to building on the momentum gained on their home court in November’s series. Led by the classy Brazilian-born Futsal White playmaker Lucas Silva, Capital’s rotation-based Brazilian style of “total” futsal, can be mesmerizing to watch. In Series One they enjoyed sustained periods of possession as they worked their opponents around the court at will.

East City meanwhile, led by excellent player-coach and former Futsal White Nathan Robertson, were the comeback specialists of Series One, thrilling the spectators during spectacular fight backs against Football South Futsal and Maccabi. With mercurial playmaker Miro Major and star youngster and golden boot co-leader Dylan Manickum in top form, they are an exciting side and genuine title contenders.

Football South Futsal were very much the surprise package of Series One, with Darren Hart, Sean McIntee and Tri Nguyen all having their moments amongst a hard working and well organised unit. At least two wins over the weekend is a minimum requirement for the home side in order to set themselves up for a chance at a playoffs spot in Series Three in Auckland in March.

Red Sox Manawatu and a very youthful Christchurch Futsal side both found it tough going in Series One and both have bolstered their squads in order to keep pace with the skill and power of their opponents over the weekend. Neither side are out of the hunt for a playoff place and Red Sox in particular, led by veteran captain Murray Burling are capable of upsetting anyone on their day.

SERIES 2
12-13 February 2011
Dunedin - hosted by Football South Futsal
Click here for full draw and for live streaming of matches


GOLDEN BOOT LEADERS
6 -> D Manickum (East City), J Basger (Maccabi Hakoah)
5 -> L Silva (Capital City Futsal), J Mundell (Maccabi Hakoah)
4 -> S Platkov (Maccabi Hakoah), D Dutra (Maccabi Hakoah)
3 -> N Fisher (Maccabi Hakoah), J Hart (East City), M Major (East City), D Hart (Football South Futsal), M Decnop (Capital City Futsal), T Assad (Capital City Futsal), M Verastegui (Red Sox Manawatu)


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