Courtesy: The Advocate

Kicking it in Brazil

29/10/2008

TASMANIAN Vikings Futsal under 16 boy's captain Nathan Turale has been selected for the Australian under 16 team to travel to Brazil in April.

Nathan, 15, is one of six Coastal players chosen in various underage teams to compete overseas early next year, with the girl's under 16 team, including Burnie's Cat Gaggin, who was in the team this year and travelled to England, and Penguin's Louise McMullen, also travelling to Brazil.

A Grade 10 student at Devonport's Reece High School, Nathan captained the state under 16 team at a selection tournament in Victoria last month for the indoor modified soccer game.

Nathan started the sport two years ago when he was asked by a teacher to represent his school.

Since that time he has been selected for Tasmania twice, won the best and fairest last year and captained the state side this year.

Costs to compete overseas next year must be met by players and their families, meaning some fundraising and sponsorship appeals will be forthcoming from Nathan and his fellow national reps.

Highlights of the Brazilian visit will include a visit to Granja Comary Brazilian Soccer Training Centre where Rivaldo and Ronaldo prepared to be world champions, watching professional futsal and soccer games, 15 hours of training with top Brazilians futsal coaches, playing local schools of excellence in Diamantina, a Brazilian city declared by United Nations as World Heritage because of its history and beauty, and a visit to Rio de Janeiro.

Vikings Futsal is well known throughout the world and has been sending representatives teams overseas for almost 10 years.

It is the only organisation contracted by EBF (Brazil Football Education) to send players and teams to their national training centre.

National Vikings national representative team selections are made from the largest futsal player base in Australasia.

The under 12 Australian team will be travelling to the US and will include Coastal players Kiel Haas, Mitchell Stanley and Lachy Weller.

An Australian under 19 boys team will also travel to China but the final team is yet to be announced.






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