Courtesy: Byron Shire Echo


Vipers Futsal needs a helping hand

Written by Eve Jeffery

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

The Vipers Nick Steel, Joel Clare, Toby Barton, Nat Caldwell, Coach Aaron Smith, Paddy Cable, Zeb Branton, Nathan Veness, Max Harlem, and Manager Rob McCrae. Photo Tracey Veness.

The Northern NSW Futsal ‘Vipers’ 14 years boys team, came second in the point score competition yesterday at Caloundra at the Country Futsal Titles.

The boys beat eight other teams to come runners up, not bad for a group which had not played together before the tournament and who have now qualified for the National State and Club titles to be held in Sydney in January.

There were outstanding performances by the team which includes students from Byron Bay High, Trinity and Woodlawn in Lismore, Alstonville High, and Southern Cross Distant Ed.

The boys hail from right accross the Norhter Rivers region and had to play against some tough competition and teams that had been together for years, many of the Vipers were playing up a division as they are only 12.

The team was composed of Nat Caldwell, Nathan Veness, Joel Clare, Zeb Branton, Paddy Cable, Toby Barton, Nick Steel, Max Harlem and coach Aaron Smith, who gives time willingly to coach the boys.

The team unfortunately does not currently have the funds to supply transport and accommodation for the Sydney event.

This is the strongest team the Noerthern Rivers region has produced and it would be a shame for the regional families to miss out again.
The National Futsal Championships will be held from January 13-15 and where the boys hope to represent the state and the Nation Team Futsal Championships will be held on January 17 and 18 where the boys, if there, will represent Northern NSW against other NSW Club teams including Sydney and teams from other states. Both events will be held at the Minto Sport and Leisure stadium.


The entry fee for the event is due by December 14 to register a team and secure accomodation and the Vipers are hoping to travel by bus and stay in cheap accommodation close to Minto Stadium.
Coach Aaron Smith is a competitive futsal player himself at 19 and coaches the Vipers as a way of supporting upcoming juniors and to give back to the sport.
Aaron has been a fantastic mentor to the boys in both futsal and life skills and is very pleased with the results the team have achieved in such a short period of time together.

Next for the boys is the Brisbane Cup in December. They will now begin intense training including specialist sport psychology training and Australian Institute of Sport Conditioning Training.

The boys will also compete at the Pacific Titles in 2009 which includes teams from all over Australia, Asia and New Zealand.

For more information about the team or to offer sponsorship support, please phone Liss on 0407 918 031.






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