VIKINGS FUTSAL NEWS

The Voice of Futsal in Australasia

Phone 617 38752600
Email viking@vikingsfutsal.com

Thursday 21st September 2006

SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER FUTSAL SEASON

Well our sign ons for this summer season have surpassed everything we expected. In all areas...New Zealand,Tasmania, Victoria ,North NSW and of course Queensland in some places our numbers have doubled. In fact in most areas we are spending more time looking for more playing venues rather than players themselves.

We can't give exact figures yet, but estimates are around 3100 teams signing up for Vikings Clubs this summer. Examples of the outstanding numbers are Brisbane North with 340, Christchurch with near 200, Far North Qld with 240 and 750 south of the Brisbane River, our original homeland..
So the simple story is that if you haven't already signed up and are planning on playing you might be too late as in a number of areas we have a waiting list to get in .

Next issue we will give you a run down on all our numbers across the regions.
This season Vikings has exactly 104 clubs and 171 courts across Australia and New Zealand and everywhere the clubs are reporting bigger than expected sign ons.


DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH VIKINGS ?

Due to the massive growth of Vikings Futsal , we are looking to take on a few more people as per below. If you feel you have the skills and have a passion for futsal, please don't hesitate to apply.

1. Trainee Bookkeeper based at Acacia Ridge office( start now).
2. Trainee in tournaments and Tours department based at Acacia Ridge office(start mid January).
3. Administrative assistant in Cairns starting parttime leading to fulltime(start now).
4. Development Officer North Melbourne region( start now).
5. Tournaments and Tours manager for Vikings New Zealand based in Christchurch.

If you are interested in discussing further any of these positions , email viking@vikingsfutsal.com


Dal Ponte Pacific League

Last weekend saw the third round of the Dal Ponte Pacific League. The round was played as part of the annual Festival of Cairns so a big crowd was in town. The grand final was a southern affair with Dal Ponte Melbourne Vipers defeating Dal Ponte Brisbane Vikings 1-0.Following on their success in winning the Hyundai Fives and visiting Germany, the Vipers are having a good year....all credit to coach Milton Sakkos.
The next round of the Dal Ponte Pacific League will be played in Christchurch on the 21st/22nd October, and at this stage 7 mens and 4 womens teams will be competing .The final round will be in Melbourne on the 9th/10th December.
Plans for next year are already underway and we look like expanding to 8 weekends ..stay tuned for more news.


Vikings Pacific School Titles

Next week at the Gold Coast sees the start of the Vikings Pacific School Titles at the Gold Coast. The tournament is played Tuesday to Thursday with Friday being FUTSAL FUN DAY at Dreamworld for all the participants.Games are played at Beenligh,Runaway Bay and Cararra.

At the tournament the Allstars Five will be selected in each age group, as well as overseas Vikings touring teams.

We wish all teams the best and hope you all play well.
For the draw go to http://www.vikingsfutsal.com/


2008 Futsal World Cup Tour

Although we don't have the exact dates yet, Vikings have already started preparing to organise a supporters tour to the 2008 Futsal World Cup in Brazil. Besides watching the tournament for two weeks the tour will be taking part in other activities. These include a tournament for those wishing to play, visit to Grand Camary, tour of Rio, and optional visits to the Dal Ponte factory in the south. Hopefully people on the tour will also get the chance to meet Brazilian stars such as Falcao.
You can be any age to take part in the tour and we are specifically taking an under 14 and 16 boys team to play/train over there and also witness the World Cup.

Our host Mauricio will probably be more involved in the organising of the World Cup itself, but he has promised us that he will still get plenty of time to spend with the tour.

Prices and details will be available once we have dates confirmed.
If you want to place an expression of interest in taking part please email RACHEL HUME


News From New Zealand

Vikings Futsal is booming in New Zealand. Paul reports that in Christchurch alone they could be touching 200 teams this summer, with well over 300 all over. On top of this we have the Vikings Pacific League in October, eight teams to the Vikings Regionals and two teams to the Pacific School Titles and a tour to China next March.With a tournaments and tours officer about to be employed that will bring us to five staff in New Zealand.

It is interesting to see New Zealand Knights have signed Adam Casey and Michael Turnbull for the Football A league. Adam played futsal in Townsville with Paul Wadsworth years ago as a junior, and Michael Turnbull played for junior Vikings rep teams in Brisbane many years ago.


TWO INTERNATIONAL TOURS TO LEAVE IN NEXT MONTH

Vikings have two international tours leaving in the next four weeks .
On Friday 13th October , Alicia Alvarez from Victoria will be leading a girls tour to Chengdu, China, where they will be looked after by our friend Li Jing from China Vikings Futsal . An extra added highlight of the tour is that they will be stopping in Bejing on the way over and doing a full day tour of Great Wall of China, Tinamin Square and the Forbidden City. Originally the tour was also to visit Bangkok, but we have cancelled this leg due to the problems in Thailand.

On Monday 16th , Col Major, Angie Stevenson and Leo Baird will lead the annual tour to England.This is the 7th England tour and we have organised plenty of futsal there.
Photos and stories from both tours will be placed on our tours websites as they come in.


EBF Brazilian Futsal Coaching Courses

Next February we are arranging for a Brazilian coaching instructor to come out and run an International EBF futsal coaching course. It will be a 20 hour course and will be run in Brisbane,Christchurch, Melbourne and Hobart on a weekend in the 16th February to 6th March 2007 period.
We are also arranging for coaches who wish to go to Brazil itself and do the official EBF/CBF 60 hour course later in that year.

If you are interested in taking part in any of these courses please email GUI COSTA on g.costa@qldfutsal.com.au


KETO'S NAME LIVES ON !!!

Brian Keightley , who is CEO of Vikings Tasmania, wasn't a bad player in his day and holds the record for being the oldest player(at 41) to score a goal in Futsal National League. He is now being followed by his grandson Christopher, who is setting the futsal/soccer world alight in Toowoomba. Report from Toowoomba Chronicle:

Talented young Toowoomba footballer, Christopher Hewson has become only the third Darling Downs Under-12 primary schoolboy in the last 13 years to be selected to represent the State of Queensland at the National Football Championships.

However to be picked as an elite athlete in Australia’s highest participator junior sport was not a matter of just turning up. Chris began his career at kindy futsal (FIFA’s indoor soccer) when he was just 5 years old, and has played both the indoor (Futsal/Summer) and outdoor (Football/Winter) version of the sport for the last seven years.

Christopher has been blessed with the quality of coaching – from his Dad, Tony, who played Football at a State League level, his Grandad who brought FIFA Futsal to Australia, his SWQ FIFA Futsal Coach Bill Sheridan (played Football at Premier League level) and more recently Englishman Dean Simpkins (the Head Coach at the Toowooomba Football Academy), local ‘legend’ Chris Wilkes (his Darling Downs Coach) and another highly accomplished Englishman, Nigel Fanning who coaches Chris at his local Highfields club team.

But quality coaching can only teach one so much … the student must want to do the work. Christopher is resolute in his pursuit to be a top line player. He works daily on his skills, is careful about what he eats, trains like he plays, is constantly improving his fitness and studies the great players of the game and what makes them tick!

Over the last twelve months Christopher’s efforts have been rewarded.

His achievements are as follows:-

· Selected for the Australian Soccer Academy U-11 team for the Champions Youth Cup at Gold Coast - September 2005

· Selected for South West Queensland (FIFA Futsal) U-11 team for Queensland State Titles.

· Selected for Queensland (FIFA Futsal) U-11 State side for National Titles where the Qld team lost a controversial final against Victoria (golden goal in extra time). January 2006

· Selected for Darling Downs U-12 AFL team which won the Country Cup at the Queensland State Titles in June 2006.

· Selected for the Darling Downs U-12 Football (soccer) team, which finished equal 3rd overall and won the Country Cup, at the Queensland State Titles in Townsville, July 2006.

· Became only the third local lad in 13 years to be selected in the Queensland U-12 State Schoolboys Football team. August 2006

· Played for Queensland U-12 Football team at National Titles in Darwin (August 2006) which won the Silver Medal, after losing only one match for the Carnival.

· Christopher was the tournaments equal top scorer at the National U-12 Schoolboys Football Titles (Golden Boot Award).

· Selected in the Darling Downs Athletics team – finished 2nd in the 100 metres at South West Queensland trials. August 2006

Christopher’s performances should be encouragement to all local players that dreams can become reality if you are bold enough to follow them, do the work and listen to your coaches.

He is a confident yet humble boy who deserves all the success and accolades he has achieved - he is a credit to his parents, his coaches, his grandfather and to himself.


DAL PONTE FUTSAL ACADEMYS TO START UP ACROSS AUSTRALASIA

After some negotiation and discussion with a number of people in the sport, we have decided to start up DAL PONTE FUTSAL ACADEMYs across Australia and New Zealand. In many of our clubs players are simply turning up for a game , playing and going home... they are not receiving any proper coaching in the sport.
The plan is to have a series of academys under the instruction of paid quality futsal coaches who are all delivering a similar unified programme to improve the ability of players.

If you are interested in being part of this programme as a coach or player, please email GUI COSTA who is coordinating the programme.

REMINDER

The DAL PONTE BRAZIL FUTSAL ACADEMY is holding a school holidays coaching clinic at Acacia Ridge. Under the guidance of Vikings DOC Gui Costa , it will teach players finer aspects of the game while having fun.


Pan Pacific Masters On At The Gold Coast

Put your best foot forward…. Play Futsal at the 2006 Pan Pacific Masters Games
They jump, they jive, they vault and volley and row and run – they come from more than 20 countries in the world to enjoy Queensland’s magnificent Gold Coast and participate in one of 40 events in the biennial Pan Pacific Masters Games.

They are master’s athletes and they love their sport.

10,000 plus participants will converge on the popular holiday destination from the 4-12 November this year to compete in the biggest multi sport master’s event in Australia, arguably the most prestigious event in the ‘Master’ sportspersons 2006 calendar!

The appeal of this event is the balance it provides between sport and social interaction for like minded persons from 25 years and beyond!

According to Queensland Events Gold Coast general manager, Cameron Hart, participation in the Masters Games is for some former elite athletes a natural extension of their competitive careers.

“For many athletes and sports enthusiasts the event provides international and national competition in a friendly environment.

“For others it is an opportunity to try something new, extend their competitive edge, achieve goals or purely enjoy the thrill of competition and the camaraderie the event is renowned for,” Mr Hart said.

The legendary Pan Pacific Masters Games Village – a purpose built pavilion on the shores of the Southport Broadwater will become the hub of the event offering full catering services and nights filled with rock, roll, soul, jazz and pop as live nightly entertainment ensures ‘Masters’ social programs are as active as their sporting schedules.

Entry for the futsal competition will close on 13 October. For more information and to enter visit mastersgames.com.au or phone: 5564 8733 to have an entry form mailed out.

Media enquiries contact:
Tamara Morris
Communications & Sponsorship Manager
tamara@goldcoastevents.com.au



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com