Courtesy: Warrnambool Standard

All-Australian futsal berth for Georgiou

WARRNAMBOOL junior soccer gun Will Georgiou is one of the country's best indoor futsal players.

The teenager was named in the All-Australian five at the Australian and Pacific National Schools Championship.

Futsal, an 'off-season variation of soccer played indoors with only five players per side, has taken off in Australia and is slowly gaining popularity in the south-west.

More than 1000 players from across Australia and New Zealand, including four local representatives, converged on Dandenong for three days last week.

Warrnambool Rangers president Darryl Twycross said the sport had been running in the city for about 12 months but admitted the public lacked knowledge about it.

``Futsal is a great skill-developer demanding quick reflexes, fast thinking and pinpoint passing,'' Twycross said.

Local siblings David, Charles and Elizabeth King were also selected in the Victorian side for their age groups.

Georgiou and Charles King were both part of the under 14 boys' championship side and David was involved in the winning under 19 side.

Elizabeth King made the semi-final in the under 14 girls' division.

Georgiou's father Peter said the under 14 boys played seven 40-minute games in two days before playing a semi-final and grand final on the last day.

``Will had very little bench time and he played the best I had seen him play,'' he said.

``He's in a real patch at the moment.''

The Federation International Football Association-endorsed sport is extremely popular overseas, particularly in Brazil, according to Twycross.



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