Nathaniel Alberto, Ben Chiew, Ollie White named among best male performers at Futsal National Championships
It was an action-packed event at the Futsal National Championships in Melbourne with top-tier talent on show. Here are the best performers.
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There was no shortage of talent at the Futsal National Championships in Melbourne last week.
Players put it all on the line for their states and territories in the five days of futsal action, streamed live via KommunityTV.
In the male competition, Queensland was the standout team, featuring in six of the eight male grand finals.
In their six grand final appearances, Queensland won five championships, winning the U12, U14, U15, U16 and AWD Open mixed trophies.
NSW Metro won the U13 and youth championships and Victoria defeat NSW Thunder to win their first ever open title.
Following the completion of the tournament, here’s a look at the top performers from the national event.
VICTORIA
Ben Chiew, Victoria Youth
Local club: No current futsal club.
Strengths: Playing under pressure and when the team is the underdog.
Tournament highlight: Stood out head and shoulders among a team with injury problems from the outset. Shouldered majority of the work throughout the tournament and is credited with keeping the team in most games. A quiet achiever who was looked up to by the team for his inspiration and leadership.
Kevin Dos Santos, Victoria Open Men’s
Local club: Moreland Futsal Club
Strengths: Stamped himself as one of the elite players in Australia. Capable of stopping Australia’s most influential players in defence, while damaging on the counter attack.
Tournament highlight: Put in a man of the match performance to see Victoria win the men’s open final.
Tycen Heeger, Victoria AWD Open Mixed
Local club: Frankston Pines FC
Strengths: Speed, power and agility. Tycen Heeger is quick to move around the court, and perform powerful kicks to the target.
Tournament highlight: A spectacular goal against NSW Lightning where he scored a long shot from the halfway line which drove straight into goal.
Jordy Vonja, Victoria U12
Local club: Western United F.C./Fitzroy Futsal club
Strengths: Tireless worker on the pitch with great ability and skill. A player who can hold his own among the best in the country in his age group.
Tournament highlight: Inspirational player who is a great captain and leader at a such young age, guided his team to the Grand Final.
QUEENSLAND
Nathaniel Alberto, Queensland U12
Local Club: Feenix Futsal
Strengths: Ability to read the game is exceptional. Alberto controls moments and areas of the pitch at high standards.
Tournament highlight: Scoring two goals in extra time of the semi final and a hat-trick in the grand final.
Baxter Blyth, Queensland U13
Local Club: Crusaders
Strengths: Quick reflexes, good positioning and good foot skills.
Tournament highlight: Beating Victoria 10-1 in the semi-finals.
Thirone Correia, Queensland Open Men’s
Local Club: Elitefoot FC
Strengths: Leadership and experience, a gifted player both technically and tactically.
Tournament highlight: He was instrumental in guiding the team to a 4-1 victory against NSW Lightning.
Michael Giallourakis, Queensland AWD Open Mixed
Local club: Ipswich
Strengths: A play maker who has a good ability to read the game.
Dunia Kambona, Queensland U16
Local Club: Sunshine Coast Wave
Strengths: A good leader who is strong and brave. He has confidence and he is happy for his teammates and his teammates respect him. His coach said: “Captain Dunia Kambona has done really well, he has had an exceptional tournament.”
Tournament highlight: The leadership he showed throughout as captain of the Queensland U16.
Mason Ngaha, Queensland U15 Boys
Local Club: Sunshine Coast Wave
Strengths: Strength, aggression, game intelligence and leadership.
Tournament highlight: Scored a hat-trick in the semi-final to go from 0-2 down to leading 3-2 and eventually winning 4-2.
Arjan Plaha, Queensland U14
Local Club: Elitefoot Futsal Club
Strengths: Physical strength, shooting, intelligence and attitude.
Tournament highlight: After winning the final, when he saw his family and all of his teammates got together and embraced the moment. It was a hard week of futsal and the team did it not only for themselves but for their state. Plaha also enjoyed the bus ride back to the hotel when the whole team was singing after winning the tournament.
Dyce Robertson, Queensland Youth
Local Club: Sunshine Coast Wave
Strengths: A smart and strong defender who is quick in transition, a team player and an accurate passer.
Tournament highlight: Scoring twice against the NCF 2023 champions NSW Metro.
NEW SOUTH WALES
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Massimo Mallamo, South Australia U13
Local club: Adelaide City
Strengths: Strong defender who can also play forward. Good technical skills.
Tournament highlight: Marked key players and kept them to minimal goals.
TASMANIA
Jackson Geary, Tasmania U12
Local club: Glenorchy Knights FC
Strengths: Strong on both feet. Composure and quick thinking under pressure.
Tournament highlight: The thrill of getting to take on the best u12 futsal players in Australia.
Jarrah Moore, Tasmania u14
Local club: South Hobart
Strengths: Dribbling and finishing. He is strong on the ball, has a competitive mindset and approaches his game seriously and strategically. He also loves to score goals.
Tournament highlight: Began the tournament well, scoring his first goal for Tasmania in the opening game against Western Australia.
Ollie White, Tasmania U16
Local club: South Hobart
Strengths: Determined and consistent player that works hard to create opportunities for the team.
Tournament highlight: Scoring a goal against Queensland in the final game.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Tyler Garner, Football West Open Age
Local club: Rockingham Cambio Cumbre FC
Strengths: Great intensity, strong defence, good understanding of the game and fast transitioner. Can shoot with both feet as well. Great stamina to play long minutes.
Tournament highlight: Scoring a brace against Victoria in the opening game.
It was no surprise that Tyler Garner was one of Football West’s best players with the 22-year-old having won his state’s MVP honour on two occasions including once as the youngest ever player in history at age 17. Garner has also won a state and national championship.
CAPITAL
Tomi Celebija, Capital U13
Local club: Boomerangs FS
Strengths: Game controller, confident in possession and can play a killer pass.
Maxx Green, Youth Capital
Local club: Boomerangs FS
Strengths: The ultimate finisher. When Maxx Green gets the ball in position to score, it will end up in the net more times than not. He is balanced and calm under pressure. Physically strong with the ability and agility to break the lines with his run or pass.
Jacob Pratezina, Capital U12
Local club: Boomernags FS
Strengths: A versatile player who can play anywhere on the pitch and fills holes as needed during the game.
Michael Pratezina, Capital U14
Local club: Boomernags FS
Strengths: Balanced and calm under pressure. Physically strong with the ability and agility to break the lines with his run or pass. Confident shooting from the outside making him a threat at all times.
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