Mackay under-10 futsal side wins Northern Region Title

After taking out the Northern Regional Futsal Title earlier this month, Queensland’s best under-10 futsal team has its eyes firmly set on the next goal – a national championship.

It may not be the traditional format of the world game, but some of the Mackay and Whitsunday region’s most prodigious young soccer talents have combined to take home the under-10 Northern Regional Futsal Titles earlier this month.

The boys attended the Brisbane tournament the year prior, performing strongly but not leaving victorious.

Seeing the enjoyment and clear talent within the group, coach Leo Garcia-Rosa presented an opportunity to the boys.

“I said to the kids ‘if you want to improve then let’s train’,” he said.

Eight months of training and playing together in the local competition, Cru Dennis, Elijah Binney, Tarcisio Pritchard, Liam Manning, Jordan Menzies and Nicholas Garcia-Rosa came away with the spoils this time around.

The under-10s boys recently won the Northern Regional Futsal Title in Brisbane. Top L-R: Coach Leo Garcia-Rosa, Cru Dennis, Elijah Binney, Tarcisio Pritchard and Liam Manning. Bottom L:R: Jordan Menzies and Nicholas Garcia-Rosa. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

The coach said the win was testament to the skill the boys have developed in their years playing the outdoor game.

Garcia-Rosa also argued there was no better way to learn the round ball game than through futsal.

“In Brazil, we didn’t learn football outside, we learnt football inside. You play futsal first and then move outdoors,” he said.

“There’s more pace, a lot of passing and you’ll quickly learn everything you need to be able to do outdoor.”

The boys said they enjoyed futsal because it was played on a smaller field which created a quicker “back and forth” style to the game.

They all agreed they would continue playing together for some time, but would remain fierce enemies on the pitch when coming up against each other for their respective clubs outdoors.

Preparations for Nationals in January 2023 have now begun, with the boys offering a warning to rivals across the country: “Beware.”

Garcia-Rosa put the offer to the community to get involved with his futsal program as he would like to send another Mackay team if numbers allowed.

He can be contacted via email at [e-mail]