ACT Futsal Press release

Young Australians ready to take on Futsal World!

Canberra: 7 June 2007

A Capital Football – Futsal touring party comprising 16 players will depart from Sydney on the 29th of June, destined for the North-East Mediterranean coast of Spain. Two teams nominated in youth men and women age categories respectively will compete in the prestigious Costa Dorada Cup, an international futsal tournament in Cambrils, attracting team entries from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy and elsewhere throughout Europe.

As reigning FIFA Futsal World Champions, Spain is now regarded as the worldwide leader of futsal. Boasting several professional leagues and an elite developmental pathway, Spain has evolved into an oasis of futsal technical knowledge. The opportunity to compete against high-quality opposition in Spain will give local players from the ACT and NSW a playing experience in which few, if any, Australian Futsal players have previously had at a youth age level.

Futsal General Manager Michael Edwards believes the “touring party will be the first Australian contingent to ever compete in the Costa Dorada Cup”. Edwards went on to say “it is one of the most exclusive youth futsal tournaments in the World and I’m really hopeful that our guys will perform well. At the end of the day though, this tour will be a learning experience for our players. Irrespective of the results, they will learn so much about the technical aspects of futsal. Hopefully this will have a flow on effect in Australia when they return”.

In addition to contesting the Costa Dorada Cup, players will be exposed to a number of training sessions conducted by experienced Spanish coaches. Friendly matches against local teams have also been organised providing further opportunities for Australian players to develop their skills in an extremely technical playing environment. Players will also take in several days of sightseeing including day trips to Barcelona, Salou and Tarragona.


Boys team consists of:
Sam Workman-Brown (NSW), Chris Lee (ACT), Patrick Ross (ACT), Rory
Devlin (ACT), Cameron Burns (NSW), Ashley Collins (ACT), Kristian Collins
(ACT), Luke De Lorenzo (ACT), Santi Exposito (COACH).


Girls team consists of:
Aniko Berguno (ACT), Melissa Khoury (NSW), Lael Burke (NSW), Shona
Robson (ACT), Hayley Buckingham (NSW), Kim Irwin (NSW), Laura Elliot
(NSW), Lisa Sullivan (NSW), Sam Jarvie (ACT), Vanh Manthongsy
(COACH).

Media are invited to the next boys training session, scheduled for the 18th of June at
6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Woden Basketball Stadium, Irving St Phillip – ACT.



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