OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF QUEENSLAND FUTSAL ASSOCIATION

( back copies available on the website below)

WEBSITE www.qldfutsal.com.au

A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE SOCCER AUSTRALIA FUTSAL COMMISSION AND AFFILIATE AND MEMBER OF SOCCER QUEENSLAND.

AND PROUDLY FUNDED BY QUEENSLAND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICE OF SPORT.

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TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW ONLINE INTERNET FUTSAL SHOP AT www.dalponte.org.au

INTERNATIONAL NEWS


The USA is holding the FUTSAL GOLD CUP in Anaheim California from December 4th to 7th. The participating teams will be Canada, Guatemala, Mexico and the USA. Full results can be seen on www.futsalplanet.com

UK TOUR OF A LIFETIME HIGHLIGHTS


A Futsal/soccer club in England, Clitheroe Wolves, ran a story on the visit of the Aussies to England in October. If you go to http://www.clitheroewolves.co.uk/ you will get more information. As a sideline the numbers for the May and November UK tours are filling fast. All enquiries to Brian Keightley on brian.k@qldfutsal.com.au

BRAZILIAN CHANGES POLICY ON ONLY ‘HOME’ PLAYERS

Great change for Brazilian Futsal. The unwritten law that denied the selection in the national team of Brazilians playing overseas has finally been deleted. The first player to be chosen by coach Fernando Ferretti was Vander Carioca for the Thailand 5's just played (Vander is currently playing for Mirò Martorell in Europe). This decision was taken by CBFS to assist in winning the World Cup in Chinese Taipei in 2004, after defeat by Spain. I had the pleasure of meeting Ferretti while watching his Falcao ‘led’ Malwee club side play in Porto Alegre last May.

NATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE TEAMS PLAY FUTSAL IN SWITZERLAND

In a coup for Swiss Futsal, their two major soccer clubs FC BASLE and GRASSHOPPERS will be entering sides in this season’s national league. Similar to Brazil where the major soccer clubs all have Futsal ‘arms’ I have always seen this as a perfect model for Australia as well. If all the National League Soccer clubs entered teams in a Futsal national league as well, the sport would receive a major boost.

EUROPEAN WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS CONFIRMED

The lineup has been confirmed for the European play-offs to determine which five European nations will reach the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship in Chinese Taipei.

Play-offs next month:

Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, Belarus and Bosnia-Herzegovina will all go into the draw for the two-legged play-offs on 10 and 17 December. The winners of the five ties will then represent UEFA at the finals to be played between 29 November and 19 December 2004.

CONCACAF ENTRANTS CONFIRMED

Confirmed National Associations for 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Qualifications are:

Canada
Costa Rica *
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Netherlands Antilles
Panama
Puerto Rico
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos Islands
USA
US Virgin Islands


This is a great result for CONCACAF as are a record number of nominations for the area. Playoffs will have to occur before world Cup time next November.

NEWS FROM THE NEW ZEALAND AND BRAZIL TOURS

Both the overseas tours we have on at the moment are going well. Both Paul Wadsworth in New Zealand and Gary Kay in Brazil are putting regular reports up on the home page www.qldfutsal.com.au. Click in to see what’s happening.

OVERSEAS FUTSAL TOURS COMING UP

Brazil 7th May to 25th May 2004
England 14th April to 3rd May 2004
New Zealand 14th April to 28th April 2004
Brazil (Dal Ponte Vikings) 25th June to 19th July 2004


NATIONAL NEWS


SELECTIONS NOW ON THE WEBSITE


The selections carried out at the National School titles in October are now listed on our website www.qldfutsal.com.au. Those selected will be either attending Centre of Excellence in Brazil or Norwich Academy in England in May. Enquiries to Brian Keightley at brian.k@qldfutsal.com.au



NATIONAL CLUB TITLES


All teams are now in training for the National titles in January. Entries have now been put in and we hope to put the draw up on our website before Christmas. Buses for the trip leave Sunday night 11th January and should be back by Friday midday 16th January. This weekend the men’s and women’s open team will be having trial games at Camira Centre from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.



NATIONAL SCHOOL TITLES 2004


Queensland has been awarded the National School titles for 2004, backing up from holding the 2003 Titles. At this stage the tournament will be Monday 27th September to Wednesday 29th September with the Individual School Titles Thursday the 30th and Friday 1st October, and will be played northern Gold Coast and South Brisbane.



OCEANIA WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS


The Oceania World Cup playoffs will now occur in Canberra or Sydney late July or early August. With the World Cup itself from 29th November next year in Taiwan, if Australia qualifies, they will be in for a busy year.


STATE NEWS

NEW PATRON FOR QUEENSLAND FUTSAL


Queensland Futsal is proud to announce the appointment of Karen Struthers MLA as the patron of the organization. Karen is the member for Acacia Ridge, taking in both our Head Office and Forest Lake centre. She is a member of the ruling Labor Government and is keen to help and be involved in the sport. Go to www.qldfutsal.com.au for full story on Karen.


CLUB TOURNAMENTS TO ATTEND THIS SEASON

The Brisbane Cup is on this weekend and next weekend. The open men and women will be played Sunday 14th December at Beenleigh and Cornubia next weekend, so if you aren’t doing anything get out and have a look. We have three major state club tournaments to come. The South West Titles on 1st February in Toowoomba, the Logan Cup on 7th/8th February at Cornubia and of course the State Regional Titles 9th to 12th April.

VALE KAREN JONES

It’s with great sadness I report the passing of Karen Jones of Mount Tambourine. Karen comes from a very Futsal involved family. Husband Trevor referees at Park Ridge and Acacia Ridge clubs; daughter Nicole administers Gold Coast club and Karen herself refereed at Park Ridge. From everybody at Queensland Futsal, our condolences to the whole family.

THE ONLINE FUTSAL SHOP NOW OPEN!!!!!

We are proud to announce that the On Line Vikings Futsal Shop is now open. The site is www.dalponte.org.au and can also be entered from our main site. At the site you can view all products, order, make payment and receive within the week. We have a wide range of products so click in for a look.

YOU CAN NOW ENTER TOURNAMENTS ONLINE

You can now enter all our tournaments, school and club, online. Go to our website www.qldfutsal.com.au and ‘click on’ the ‘REGISTER FOR TOURNAMENTS HERE’ site and then follow the instructions.

ACTION AT ACACIA RIDGE

In the fourteen months since we took over the Acacia Ridge centre the turnaround has been amazing, and last weekend was a good example. On Friday night we held the first over 35s carnival night with eight teams, Saturday morning saw Kindy Futsal and the under 8’s competition followed by team training. Saturday afternoon saw the Logan City Refugees Association have their first afternoon carnival followed by 18 and open women’s training, closing up at 9.00pm. All day Sunday was the first Bosnian Association Futsal Carnival, followed at 5.00pm by more training, closing at 7.00 pm On top of Monday to Thursday being full 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm with senior competitions and state office being based there, the centre has certainly turned around.


NEW FLOOR GOES IN

Acacia Ridge Centre will be closed from Friday 12th December to Monday 5th January while our new sports floor is put in. The floor is costing $144,000 and thanks to the sponsorship and generosity of State Government, Brisbane City Council and the Community Benefits Fund. The centre will have both an international size court and two competition courts marked. An open day, where our patron will open the new centre, is planned for early February.

ALL CLUBS DRAWS ON THE WEBSITE

All our clubs draws and points tables are now accessible on the website. Go to www.qldfutsal.com.au , click on your club on the right hand side, and at the club site on the left you will see click ons for draws and tables. You can also identify your team name on the right hand side, and click on your team for the same information. If your team or competition is not there email us on qldfutsal@qldfutsal.com.au.

WHAT TO BUY FOR CHRISTMAS

Not sure what to buy for Christmas? Why not a pair of the latest DAL PONTE Futsal shoes. Go to our online site www.dalponte.org.au, and you can view the products and order over the net, or visit one of our offices. We also have available gift vouchers from the Vikings Den, to make the decision process easier. Enquires can be directed to Margaret on 38752600 or m.burley@qldfutsal.com.au

WHATS COMING UP-DATES TO REMEMBER

13th/14th December Brisbane Cup Logan/Beenleigh
24th/26th January Dal Ponte Country Tour Rockhampton/Bundaberg/Maryboro
31st Jan/1st February South West Titles Toowoomba
7th/8th February Logan City Cup Logan City

HUMOUR

AND NOW SOME GOOD QUOTES FROM THE PLAYERS

“ I’ve had 14 bookings this season-8 which were my fault, but 7 of which were disputable. “ (Paul Gascoigne)

“ I was watching the Blackburn game on TV on Sunday when it flashed on the screen that George (Ndah) had scored in the first minute at Birmingham. My first reaction was to ring him up….. Then I remembered he was out there playing. “(Ade Akinbiyi)

“ My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about seven. “ (Beckham)

“ I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don’t know into what religion yet. “ (Becks again)

“ I couldn’t live in Italy…it was like living in a foreign country.” (Ian Rush)

“ One accusation you can’t throw at me is that is that I’ve always done my best. “ (Alan Shearer)

“ There’s no in between---you are either good or bad. We were in between.” (Gary Lineker)

“ Do you remember when we played Spain in the Anglo-Italian? “ (Shaun Newton)

and one for little Kevin Moloney of Calamvale and ‘One Last Dance’ fame.

A 7 year boy was at the centre of a courtroom custody battle, when he personally challenged a judges ruling.
The boy had a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge awarded custody to hid aunt. The boy told the judge that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he didn’t want to live there. When the judge then suggested he live with his grandmother, the boy cried out that she beat him more than all the others. The judge then took a dramatic step and allowed the boy to choose who should have custody of him. History was made, as custody was granted to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, because as the boy told the judge, they’re not capable of beating anybody.

CHARLEVILLE TOUR

And from two weekends ago I have to mention this one. When driving through the country town of DALBY on the way to Charleville, one of the boys wanted to know where the DOLBY surround sound stereo factory was.

( more next week…………..)


THAT’S ALL FOLKS…..SEE YOU NEXT WEEK