Official newsletter of Queensland Futsal Association Inc.

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NATIONAL TITLES
The newsletter is slightly late this week as we only got back from the national titles this morning. Results wise we performed extremely well in the girls competitions. The open womens final saw Queensland A play Queensland B and the 13,14, and 16 girls all picked up runnersup medals.

In the club titles , of the three girls competitions to be played, Mt Gravatt won the 14 girls and 16 girls.It was disappointing in the open women where the Mt Gravatt girls went through undefeated but lost the semifinal through tiredness.With the Mt Gravatt side having players from both open state sides it was hoped they would walk the club titles in.
Our mens team was devastated by withdrawals and injury and didn't make the semifinals. From last year's championship team we only had three players remaining. ACT went on to win their sixth championship in eight years( Queensland won the other two) 4-2 against NSW .


EMAIL ME YOUR IDEAS ON THE NATIONALS

For those readers who have just attended the nationals, and have some constructive ideas about improving it, email me your suggestions. Did you like the accommodation, food , or transport ? The tournament ? We can only make changes if problems can be pointed out to us.


OTHER STATES ON THE MOVE

I met Ray Grima from South Australia and Barry Poulsen from Victoria at the nats and it is great to see things are on the move in their respective states.

Ray tells me they had 800 juniors this season and he is opening a new centre in the north of Adelaide next week. With the school titles in Albury in September he is confident South Australia will definitely have teams there. This will also be reflected in a big increase for teams to next year's club nationals.
Barry had ten teams in the nats this year, and he is confident that next Victoria will fill every age group and will have bulk teams at the school titles.

Augers well for the future of futsal.


VALE CHRIS FISCHER

It is with great sadness I announce on this newsletter the passing of Chris Fischer on Friday.

Chris is the mother of David , a member of our men's team, and has had a battle with sickness over the last two years. Davis was at a BBQ at my house last Sunday and received a message to rush to the hospital at 7.00 pm that night. He unfortunately had to pull out of the mens team the next day to stay by his mothers bedside.

Chris this season managed David's team at Mt Gravatt( as she has done in the past ) and has supported Futsal for the last twelve years. On recollection I think this is the first national titles she has missed since David was ten.

Queensland Futsal's condolences go out to David and Barry his father. The funeral will be held Tuesday.


REGIONAL TITLES

Is your club organised for the regional titles ? If not ask why not !! The regionals are in Brisbane over Easter March 30th to April 1st and involve all age groups under 10 to open men and women.


NEW TOWNSVILLE PHONE NUMBER

We have now moved the Townsville office to the Townsville Indoor Sports Stadium (once Fit for Life centre). The new number is 47720011. Drop in and see Paul and see what's happening in futsal in the north.


INTERNATIONAL TOURS

Those selected for National Select touring teams will receive their letters by the end of next week.
the teams selected will be touring to Singapore( 12 year boys), Brazil ( Centre of Excellence 16-19 boys and girls).
Europe( 14/15 boys and girls).


UK TOUR OF A LIFETIME

Organisation for the UK tour in October is well underway. Led by Brian Keightley, the tour takes in coaching at Norwich City Soccer Club and the famous Manchester United soccer school, with games against youth teams at Norwich and Burlney. Futsal wise we play against the Pendle club, and if things work out we will also be playing against possibly a French side(hopefully Jerome will help us out.
With the transfer of Andy Cole from Manchester United to Blackburn last week, I'm reminded of when I took this tour to the UK in 1996. This was the best Futsal schoolboys side I have ever taken away with Josh Tidswell or Andrew Savvas in goal( Josh is still playing in NSW), Nic Purdue ( now playing national league and state league soccer in Canberra) at pivot, Scotty Manson( ACT state team member that won the nationals this week and should be in the national side), Aaron Fuller ( now state league soccer in ACT ) and Damian Conquest target ( Queensland and Australian men's team ).

I took the boys on a tour of OLD TRAFFORD, the home of Manchester United, which cost us 5 pound each. After ten minutes of the tour the leader informed us that the first team squad had been allowed to train on the main field as the training fields were snowed in and would we like to continue with the tour or watch training. I was outvoted, so we watched training. Andy Cole had only been at United a couple of months, and hadn't scored a goal, so he was fairly unpopular with the fans. Alex Ferguson had a shooting exercise going and after about six goes Andy got one in. The tour guide proudly stood up and in a loud voice that could be heard on the pitch announced to the tour party of 60 people ' Ladies and gentleman, you've just seen history made ! Andy Cole just scored his first goal at Old Trafford !'
As a sideline, we took the boys to meet the players after the training. Most of the players were fairly rude and brushed past without giving autographs.All except Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel who stayed with the tour group for an hour giving autographs and having their photos taken with people. If you come to the state futsal office you will see a large photo on the wall of Damian Conquest with Cantona.



HUMOUR

JOKE ONE

God decides to challenge Satan to a game of FUTSAL .They meet and agree on a neutral location,times,etc. In the spirit of the game they decide to have a little wager on the result.

'You have no chance ' says God, ' as we have all the greatest players from over the years in heaven.'

' That's okay ' says Satan ' we've got the game totally sewn up......we've got all the referees in hell. '

( THANKS TO FRED BOYLAN FROM CANADA FOR THAT ONE )


SOME FAMOUS TELEVISION COMMENTS

' Paul Scholes-the most complete mental player I've seen.'

' If that had gone in it would have been a goal. '

' Its now 1-1 ,an exact reversal of the score on Saturday. '

' I've got a gut feeling in my stomach.... '

' And with just 4 minutes gone, the score is already 0-0.'

( all David Coleman BBC)


' I'm a firm believer that if the other team scores first you have to score twice to win. '

' If they hadn't have scored we would have won. '

( both Howard Wilkinson, manager Sheffield Wed.)

' I think that France, Germany, Spain, Holland and England will join Brazil in the semis. '
( Pele)



' ....but Arsenal are quick to credit Bergkamp with setting up 75 % of their nine goals this season. '

( Mark Lawrenson BBC)

..and the last, from a soccer call back show :

CALLER : ' I think there are too many foreign players now in the English League. '

MARK LAWRENSNON : ' Really... why do you think this is ?'

CALLER : ' 'cause there are a lot of them. '



THATS ALL FOLKS....SEE YOU NEXT WEEK