Futsal champions Victoria, NSW Thunder set for AFF Thailand tournament
Australia’s national futsal champions are set to take on some of the world’s best in an exciting opportunity later this year. Here’s what’s in store.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Futsal national champions Victoria and NSW Thunder are set for exciting international tournaments which could mark a breakthrough for the sport in Australia.
Administrators are planning to send the two national champions to Thailand in an attempt of winning a title in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) tournament for the first time in history.
Australian club team East Coast Heat made it to the final of the tournament in 2018 so a title feat this year would finally make an Australian side the best in southeast Asia.
The Victorian men’s team will head to the AFF Club Championships Thailand in April and the NSW Thunder women’s side will play at the NSDF tournament in June.
Mlynarz spoke highly of the opportunity the players had in front of them with the initial AFF tournaments in Thailand.
“It’s huge (the opportunity) really,” he said
“We have got a few players like Adam Cooper that’s played at a World Cup and AFC tournaments before.
“We have got a few that have been to the AFC clubs tournaments so we have a bit of experience there but we have also got players that have never played at that level.
“And for them, they may never make the national team so this could be their only opportunity to go overseas for futsal.”
The current Victorian men’s futsal team have had a number of experienced players who have previously participated in overseas tournaments.
Christos Apostolakis, Scott Rogan and Cosimo Russo have all played in AFC club tournaments.
Apostolakis, who captained the Victorian team to its first national title this year, has played in three Asian tournaments.
Mlynarz, who was the team manager of the Futsalroos in 2016, was excited about the prospect of star players, including Kevin Dos Santo , showcasing their skills on a bigger stage.
“To me he is the most in form player in the country,” he said.
“I could go out on record and say he is the best player in the country at the moment.
“So giving him an opportunity (would be great).”
Mlynarz said his team would take the tournament one step at a time knowing the standard of opposition they would come up against.
“We are aiming to get out of the group stage and then we will reassess come finals because we know the quality we are coming up against,” he said.
“They are all professional and we are not so we go there to try and make waves and show that we can play.”
Australian futsal will be striving to return back to a World Cup in 2024 after missing out in 2020.
For the women, it will be an exciting opportunity for them who will look to bring back its national team which hasn’t been around since 2003.
Victoria (Futsal National Championships open men champions)
Christos Apostolakis
Atay Ibrahim
Adam Cooper
Jorge Arturo Garzon Diaz
Henrique Pimenta
Kevin Dos Santo
Scott Rogan
Cosimo Russo
Corey Sewell
Andre Caro Salve
Ubeyde Cicek
Frano Saric
Jose Filho
Daniel Fogarty
NSW Thunder (Futsal National Championships open women champions)
Brianna Clarke
Sarah Easthope
Alexia Karry-Stahl
Aurelia Collins
Chloe Gordon
Daisy Arrowsmith
Eliza Pereira
Emma Hurley
Grace Arnold
Samantha Nagy
Sarah Moore
Sheiden Jabour
Powerhouse clubs sign up for Gather Round on Murray
Yarrawonga is hosting its inaugural football-netball Gather Round event next month. See which clubs have committed to playing.
Youth, experience mix to fuel Knights’ finals charge
Melbourne Knights are looking to make a return to NPL Victoria finals this season with a strong mix of youth and experience under club great Ivan Franjic.