Courtesy: The Cairns Post


Futsal player Kieran Pates is a star on the rise

by Murray Wenzel

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

HAVING returned from a stint in Brazil, Australian futsal representative Kieran Pates wants to take his game to another level.

The star ’keeper took time out for a photo shoot ahead of October’s Vikings International Club Futsal Challenge in Cairns.

"He’s done really well up until now. He really impressed in their elite football academy and now he’s back and better than ever," Northern Australia Futsal boss Tony Cifuentes said.

As Pates gets used to the Australian way again, another local product will make the journey to South America to try his luck.

Teenager Connal Plunkett leaves for the professional Brazilian club Minas Tenis in Belo Horizonte today for a three-month stint in the hope of securing a contract and also getting some tips from the best futsal coaches in the world.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity and I think he is the kind of guy who can adapt to the differences and really make the most of it," Cifuentes said.

"It’s still early days for him but they want to have a closer look at him. There is pretty good money in the sport over there, so it’s definitely a great opportunity."




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