North Shore TimesFutsal player turns professional by
Danielle Long 19 Sep 06 TOBIAS Seeto of Turramurra has become the first Australian to play futsal professionally in Spain.
The 18-year-old was selected to play for Valenciano club Playas de Castellon last month after taking part in a five-week tour of Italy and Spain with his local club, APF Dural.
``It is pretty huge,'' Seeto said. ``I am currently on a four-month trial with the club.
``This is new for them because they have never taken on an Australian and they want to see if I can adapt to the lifestyle and culture.''
Playas de Castellon is one of Spain's premier futsal clubs, having won the UEFA Futsal Cup in 2003 and winning the Liga Nacional de Futbol Sala Championships twice.
``It is completely different to playing in Australia,'' Seeto said. ``The game is well solidified in Spain. They have two leagues in Spain, the national league which I am playing in, and a provincial league.''
Seeto took up futsal at the age of 11. By the time he was 13, he had represented NSW in the National Championships and he continued to do so every year, culminating in the under-23s NSW team in 2005.
Despite his international success, Seeto said he still wanted to represent Australia one day.
Futsal is the indoor version of soccer. It is sanctioned by football's governing body, FIFA.
APF Dural team with the Spanish National Team Coach Javier Lozano. Elliot Ragomo is third from the left, in the back row, next to Lozano. Tobias Seeto is second from the right in the rear row. Jack Wetney is in the front row, furthest to the right (Photo courtesy: Futsal Magazine Pivo!)
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