NEW Zealand will host Port Macquarie’s Eastcoast Eagles men’s and women’s futsal squads this week in what is a warm up for the 2019 AFA National Futsal Championships.
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Held in Auckland, the two day tournament (from October 24 to 30) is an opportunity for New Zealand futsal selectors to choose their squads for next year’s nationals.
Before that, though, the Eagles will go across the ditch to provide stiff competition, taking over their opens squads that feature a great mix of experience and youth.
Eagles coach Mick Day said it is a great lead up competition for the nationals.
“We take our teams away for competitions and they’ve been training all year, but this is the main warm up, getting them tournament-ready,” he said.
“I know they’re all looking forward to it. It’s the first time the men and women teams have travelled overseas together.
“A lot of these players are young players mixed with some experience.
We never had this growing up, in outdoor football or futsal, so I’ve never travelled overseas at all let alone for sport.
- Isaac Wood
“Even some of the senior players didn’t have these opportunities before, but the development plan that we have allows for all of this. It’s a great time for the team and for the sport.”
Day said in particular the women are very focused and as the current national champions, are ready to go back-to-back at nationals.
“The men had a really good nationals and made it into the finals for the first time ever, but we want to go one step further now,” he said.
“It will be the best of the best from all over the country, including New Zealand and we are really looking forward to that in January.”
Isaac Wood, from Tamworth, will board a plane for overseas for the first time ever to compete in Auckland.
A tall player who likes to create opportunities with the ball at his feet, Wood said they have a strong squad and was excited for the journey.
“I’ve only been with the Eagles for a few months after some friends invited me to training,” he explained.
“I’m hoping to get a lot of experience from this. I want to find my feet and get used to what the level is at.
“Hopefully someone can notice me in the competition (as) country selection would be great.”
Wood said he was never given opportunities like this in the past.
“We never had this growing up, in outdoor football or futsal, so I’ve never travelled overseas at all let alone for sport,” he said.
Matt Attard
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
