The former Australian futsal international had a chat to oceaniafootball.com about the current state of the sport in the region and his vision for the future.
How important is the OFC Championship to the development of futsal across Oceania?
It is very important at the elite level and I am very glad it has become an annual event. Previously, Australia qualified for World Cups through the OFC tournament but this was only held every four years and, consequently, the Australian team were never competitive enough. All the other countries that qualify are consistently playing games throughout the year. The better countries often play 30 to 40 games while Australia would play the qualifiers and then a couple of warm-up games before competing in the World Cup. Now the Oceania teams can get much needed international competition and the winner often gets asked to play in other tournaments, much like the Al Fateh Confederations Cup the Solomon Islands contested in Libya last year. There is nothing like competitive games to improve your team as training can only take you so far.
What do you think of the futsal talent in the Pacific? Can the area produce a team that can go on to perform well at a FIFA Futsal World Cup?
I am very confident that one of the countries in Oceania can be competitive at a World Cup, provided they have the right preparation leading up to it. The Solomon Islands showed how far they had come from the qualifying tournament in 2008 to the Al Fateh Confederations Cup in Libya in 2009. At the 2008 qualifiers, they leaked 29 goals in six games and were beaten 5-1 by Vanuatu. They had very poor results at the World Cup, including a record 31-2 defeat at the hands of Russia. Prior to the next OFC Championship, I worked very hard with them on defensive structure and better movement off the ball. In the 2009 OFC Championship, they leaked only seven goals and scored an emphatic 11-0 victory over Vanuatu. Quite a turnaround!
Eleven months after the World Cup, they competed at the Al Fateh Confederations Cup. In their first game they played the African champions, Libya, and only lost 6-5. They also played CONCACAF champions Guatemala and came away with a creditable 6-6 draw. Their last game in Libya was against Iran, Asian champions and the fifth-ranked team in the world. The team performed admirably and only went down 6-0.
As for other countries, I believe New Zealand and Fiji will push the Solomons for the right to be the Oceania representative at the 2016 World Cup. Both these countries’ governing bodies are serious about ensuring their futsal teams have the right preparation to succeed in qualifying. Possibly, they could upset the form card and qualify for the 2012 World Cup but I don’t think they can bridge the gap that exists between them and the Solomon Islands in such a short time. For me, Vanuatu is the biggest disappointment as they have enormous potential and could seriously challenge.
What is your vision for the future of futsal in Oceania?
I believe an Oceania team will be successful at a futsal World Cup. Futsal is a fast-paced game and requires quick feet and good skill levels. The Kurukuru have these qualities and have a whole crop of young players coming through. Other countries could match the Solomon Islands if they can put in place the academy programme that commenced there in 2002.
I also think futsal should be introduced as the “football” game in primary schools and at grass roots level. The football player of the future will possess much better technique and this will ensure that Oceania countries are much more competitive on the international stage. A national league in each country would be very beneficial to ensure players are consistently playing high level futsal. In turn, an OFC Futsal Club Championship should be introduced. All this should be emulated for the women as well. Long term, I can see Oceania players being sought after to play in the professional leagues throughout Europe as they add brilliant flair and excitement to the game.
How do you think futsal compares to association football as a sport in its own right?
Futsal is a sport in its own right. It is just that football associations and coaches feel threatened by it and see it is a competitor. But if used correctly futsal is more beneficial to football than they realise. Young children playing football for the first time at five or six really struggle to control a bouncing ball. But if they played with a futsal ball from the first moment they would instantly have control as it doesn’t bounce. Their skill level would improve more quickly and when they progressed to a football they would master this a lot quicker than they do now. At my local futsal club in Sydney, Campbell Town City Quake, parents have often told me what a difference the season had made for their son or daughter when they went back to football.
What do you think are the most positive aspects of futsal? Why would you encourage people to play it?
Futsal is a fast-paced, action-packed game and can be enjoyed at any level. As it is played on a small area, a player is never out of the action. The game promotes quick decision-making, fast feet, speed and good skill development. I recommend it for any age or gender, no matter if you play football or not. It is addictive and once you have played it is hard to stop.
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