Courtesy: NSW Futsal

Theatre Of Dreams For Quake

20/07/04

Think of those who have trodden the hollowed turf of England's Old Trafford and such greats as Bobby Charlton, George Best and David Beckham, men who have dazzled the world with their skills, spring to mind. Seven players from Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club will join those elite names when they aim to dazzle the world in the finals of the Vodafone Shield 5-a-side soccer competition to be held at the Manchester ground in August.

After taking out the NSW component of the worldwide competition over 62 other entrants, the Quake met winners from the West Australian, South Australian, Queensland and Victorian events in a round robin competition staged at Sydney's Centennial Park. The state winners were playing for the ultimate goal - travelling to England to represent Australia against the world's best in the tournament's finals series.

In the round robin stage of the Australian finals, a first up victory against Victoria was followed by a setback against West Australia. Spurred into action by the loss, the Quake recorded comprehensive 6-nil victories against both South Australia and Queensland to grab the second seed for the semi-finals. Queensland fell to the Quake a second time in the penultimate match setting Campbelltown up with a play-off against Victoria who had accounted for the undefeated WA in their semi-final.

Twice previously Campbelltown's finest had fallen at this hurdle. As losing finalists, the Quake had missed trips to the 5-a-side tournaments that had accompanied the World Cup in Korea and Euro 2004 in Portugal. But history was erased as the Quake downed Victoria 2-0 to claim the all expenses paid sojourn to the North of England.

The Vodafone Cup pits English giants Manchester United against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and Boca Juniors from Argentina.

The pre-season tournament to be staged at the "Theatre of dreams" will feature the 5-a-side Vodafone shield as a side event.

Player/coach Scott Gilligan who is a life long fan of the Red Devils said he had knew his side would win before the tournament began. "I've seen myself playing there in my mind" he said. Gilligan, who also coaches the Australian futsal team, is currently in Canberra for the FIFA Futsal World Championship OFC qualifying event. He will be trying to guide the Futsalroos, including three Quake players, to the lone OFC berth in the FIFA event to be held in Chinese Taipei in November.

Quake Team: Gavin O'Brien, Simon Keith, Ben Singleton, Scott Gilligan, Tim Simpson, Andrew Payne and Miles Downie.

by Scott Kidson
scott@keycode.com.au
source: Key Code