OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF QUEENSLAND FUTSAL ASSOCIATION

(back copies available on the website below)

WEBSITE www.qldfutsal.com.au

ON LINE FUTSAL SHOP www.dalponte.org.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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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

OCEANIA PLAYOFFS ABOUT TO BEGIN

The Oceania World Cup playoffs start in Canberra this Sunday. Six nations have entered…New Zealand, Solomons, Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and Australia. The tournament is played over five days in a straight round robin, with the last game Thursday. I am in Canberra as Head of Delegation for the Australian team and will put up reports each morning on the www.qldfutsal.com.au site for those interested. Queenslanders in the twelve- man squad are Marty Calvert, Damian Pilat and Danny Ngualufe.

The winning team from this tournament goes on to represent Oceania at the World Cup in Taiwan in November.



AFRICA AND CONCACAF ALSO HAVE PLAYOFFS ON

Africa and CONACAF also have their playoffs over the next few weeks. Without going into too much detail go to www.futsalplanet.com to keep up to date with the playoffs in these areas.


DAL PONTE VIKINGS LOSE OUT IN PORTUGAL

The Vikings men’s team represented Australia at the Hyundai World Five A Side Championships during the European Championships in Portugal, three weeks ago.
Unfortunately we were knocked out by Saudi Arabia in the first round 4-3 who then went on to lose to Korea 4-3 in the final. However the boys had a great time, getting to meet the great Johan Cruyff and seeing the Greece semi final live. At least our goalkeeper Nic Papadatos had something to come home happy about.


AND LOSE STATE FINAL OF VODAPHONE CUP

Vodaphone also ran a World Five a Side Championship this year and unfortunately the Vikings lost the Queensland final. It was unfortunate but the boys got off the plane from Portugal at 9.00 am and the first game in the Vodaphone was at 11.00am so those playing were a little jetlagged.

Congratulations however to our Futsal compatriots from Sydney, the Campbelltown Quake, who won the Australian final and now qualify to go to Manchester United for the World final, and I believe a coaching session with Alex Ferguson.


PAUL WADSWORTH MOVES TO NEW ZEALAND

It is now common knowledge that Paul Wadsworth, who has been with us for nearly 8 years, has moved to the South Island of New Zealand to start up Futsal. Paul, who hails from Dunedin on the South Island, has been wishing to go back for years to start up Futsal in his homeland. He has already lined up to start 4 clubs…two in Christchurch and Queenstown and Dunedin, and is expecting a big season. There are already plans to bring South Island teams to our regional titles next year.

Paul can be contacted over there on Mobile 021401991.



ECUADOR/CHILE TOUR BIG SUCCESS

Our 12 boys tour to Ecuador left last Friday and so far they have had a successful tour. The highlight was last Wednesday meeting the president of Chile and the Australian Ambassador at the Chilean Presidential palace. This week they are competing in an 8-day tournament in Quito, Ecuador. For more details on the tour go to www.qldfutsal.com.au


JAPAN TOUR LEAVES SUNDAY

The 15year boy’s tour to the state of Saityama in Japan leaves this Sunday. Led by well known coach Gary Kay, the boys will play a game against the Saityama state team to celebrate 20 years of the Saityama/Queensland sister state agreement. They will also have games in Tokyo organized by Japan Futsal.


OVERSEAS FUTSAL TOURS COMING UP

Ecuador /Chile - 12th July to 30th July 2004
Japan - 25th July to 4th August 2004
England - 11th October to 30th October 2004
Brazil - 19th November to 8th December 2004
New Zealand - 26th November to 8th December 2004
New Zealand (youth) - 28th January to 12th February 2005


NATIONAL NEWS

DAL PONTE VIKINGS SQUADS NAMED

The Dal Ponte Vikings Squads for 2004/3005 have been name and are on the website www.qldfutsal.com.au. This season, expanding on the previous year, we have selected 16 boys, 16 girls and youth men as well as open men and open women. Academy coaches for the year are Gui Costa (head coach and open men), Marty Calvert (open women), Andrew Kendall (youth men), Leo Baird (16 boys) and Andre Servatius (16 year girls). Training will begin in the week of the 9th August and a presentation night will occur during the National School Titles.



DAL PONTE WEBSITE


I’m sure you have all noticed that the Vikings website www.dalponte.org.au has been stagnant for a while. We have had a general restructuring of certain parts of the site and it is now nearly finished. Please go in and have a look but particularly click on the shop site (Vikings shop) and see the new display. In time also the forum, news articles and photos will also be updated.


NATIONAL SCHOOL INTERSTATE SERIES

The National School Interstate series looks like being one of the biggest ever with at this stage, 115 entries for the tournament. This will of course slightly fluctuate, but is still higher than last years 92 teams. The tournament is played from Monday 27th September to Wednesday 29th September. The centres being used in Brisbane are Beenleigh, Cornubia, Mt Gravatt and state office Acacia Ridge.

Draws for the tournament will be up by mid September, but most likely will be earlier. Any enquires re the tournament should be directed to Nicola Zammit on n.zammit@qldfutsal.com.au.


NATIONAL SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL SERIES

The Thursday 30th September and Friday 1st October will see the individual school titles played. This is where your school can play off to be the champion school in Australia. If you want an entry booklet emailed to you please email April on a.mann@qldfutsal.com.au. Last year we had 38 entries, and already entries have surpassed this.


REFEREES FOR BOTH THESE TOURNAMENTS
(NOTE FROM NICOLA)

Queensland Futsal are hosting the National School Futsal Championships this year during the School Holidays. The Championships are spilt into two sections the State Series Monday 27th September - Wednesday 29th September and the Individual Schools Series Thursday 30th September & Friday 1st October. The venues that the Championships will be played at are Cornubia Insports Centre, Hibiscus Centre (Mt. Gravatt), Beenleigh Arena and Acacia Ridge (State Futsal Headquarters). If you are interested in refereeing please contact Nicola Zammit on n.zammit@qldfutsal.com.au or 3875 2600. You are paid and out of Brisbane referees will be assisted with accommodation.


STATE NEWS


CLUB SIGN ONS

Well its nearly the start of the most hectic part of the season for us ….Sign On. We will be signing on from 15th August to 15th September across all our centres but exact dates and times will be advertised in local media. We will be placing on our website from the 1st August details as well. Most clubs will start friendlies from mid September and fixtures from 5th October after the school holidays. If you are unsure contact your local regional or centre manager, check the website or ring the state office on 07 38752600.



CENTRE MANAGERS

Want to earn some part-time money? We are again looking for centre administrators in most areas of the state. We are particularly looking for someone in Mackay or Darwin, so if you are interested or know someone please email me at qldfutsal@qldfutsal.com.au


NEW CLUBS

We have a few new clubs this year, which is in line with the growth we have been experiencing. In the country we have Mossman and Ayr and in Brisbane Albany Creek, City Central, Moorooka, Coorparoo, Capalaba, Cleveland and Kenmore. On the Gold Coast new clubs are Nerang, Northern Stars, Tallebudgera and Tweed City. Details of who to contact for these clubs is at www.qldfutsal.com.au


VIKINGS SCHOOL

Vikings School kicks off this Sunday morning at Acacia Ridge and is in its second week at Centenary. The school is an 8-week pre season coaching school run by our National League players to give kids who want it a head start to the new season. The programme will run into the new season where players will head straight back into competitions. It is for ages 6 to 16 boys and girls (split by age) and if hadn’t heard about it and are interested email Jodie on j.Hammond@qldfutsal.com.au

We will also be holding a holiday Vikings School in the first week of the September holidays at various locations. Nomination forms for this will be available when you sign on for the new season.

EXHIBITION CUP

We are holding our first one-day mixed tournament on Exhibition Wednesday 13th August. Cost is $95 per team and normal rules for mixed apply. Contact j.banks@qldfutsal.com.au for info or if you wish to enter.


WINTER CUP

The Winter Cup is on at Acacia Ridge this Sunday, the third in a row of our one day men’s Sunday tournaments. If you have missed this one the next is Sunday 12th

September so contact again jade at j.banks@qldfutsal.com.au or 38752600


STAFF CHANGES AT FUTSAL

A few changes have occurred in Queensland Futsal since our last newsletter. Ian Bentall started on the 1st July as Regional Manager for the Gold Coast and Andre Servatius two weeks later as Regional Manager for Inner North and City Brisbane. Helen Benfeld will start from Monday 26th July as bookkeeper and Kelly Mcgraw (who also runs Park Ridge club), will also start three days a week from 10th August as reception and Administration. From the 1st September Inge Pryde will move out to our new office at Capalaba to run our Brisbane East centres while Brian Keightley will be moving to a colder climate from 8th August. The going away party for Keto looks like being at Diceys at Garden City on the afternoon of Sunday 15th August, but stay tuned for more information.

We also have a number of new centre administrators who are too numerous to mention but will be listed at the website.


WHATS COMING UP-DATES TO REMEMBER

Far West School Titles - 9th to 11th August - Roma
Central West Titles - 9th to 11th August - Emerald
Club Sign Ons - 15th August to 15th September - Various
Gold Coast Cup - 21st August - Tallebudgera
Redlands Cup - 4th September - Redlands
National State School Titles - 27th to 29th September - Brisbane
National Individual School Titles - 30th September to 1st October - Brisbane
School Champion of Champions - 18th to 21st October - Brisbane



AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Well the success of Greece at the Euros is great for the sport of soccer and shows that nothing is certain in sport. In Australia we have a large number of people with Greek heritage involved in Futsal. In our Vikings men’s team Nic Papadatos (who saw the semifinal live) and in the Australian men’s team assistant coach Milton Sakkos and goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou.

I have been asked by one of them to publish this joke as I am told it is always good to laugh at yourself.

Why is it dangerous to give away a corner to a Greek Futsal Team?

Because one of them will start a fish and chip shop on it.

(more next week…………..)

THAT’S ALL FOLKS…..SEE YOU NEXT WEEK