Courtesy: Sunshine Coast Daily


Futsal strengthens with affiliation links

5th August 2008

By Nathan Woulfe

The hidden gears have been spinning and grinding for some time, but as of Monday, the teeth have meshed and started spinning together, to create a new force in Sunshine Coast football.

Sunshine Coast Football (SCF) was already one of the Coast’s largest sporting bodies, but is now even larger, with the Sunshine Coast Futsal Association (SCFA) now coming under its formidable wing.

In becoming an affiliate club of Sunshine Coast Football, SCFA is now directly aligned with Football Queensland, the Football Federation of Australia and the Asian Football Confederation.

Sunshine Coast Futsal Director of Coaching Trevor Edwards said the move would benefit both codes, while forging solid links to the wider footballing community.

“There has been a need to focus on the similarities of both the indoor and outdoor versions of the game, in an attempt to advance the sport while keeping the best interests of both codes at heart,” Edwards said.

“We’ve been associated with a lot of footballers, but not with an organisation – we are now recognised as a club, just like Buderim or Maroochydore.

“The links back to football have always been there, through our players – around 70-80% of our players play both codes.”

As a result of the alliance, Edwards will also be able act on plans to improve the professionalism and quality of the local Futsal product, which runs during summer at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The indoor stadium at North Street, Caloundra, is also earmarked as a venue for other summer fixtures.

Perhaps the biggest benefit for players – which include many of the Coast’s top Division One footballers – is the increased opportunity to play Futsal at a representative level.

The Football Federation of Australia has announced that the winner of the Open Men’s category at the 2009 Futsal National Titles – to be held in Canberra in January - will represent Australia at the AFC Futsal Club Championships.

Edwards said the affiliation exposed Coast players to possible representative honours.

“The biggest benefit for players is the pathway through to national teams and championships,” he said.

“Players now have the opportunity to push towards selection for those teams.

“When it comes down to the selection of Queensland teams, we can ensure kids are selected on merit, not on a user-pays basis.

“That’s how things used to be run – where kids would go if they could afford it – but the association with Football Queensland will end that,” Edwards said.

“Our affiliation is now direct with Football Queensland.”






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