Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
The first-ever OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup was an important early step in the development of the women’s game across the Pacific.
For a contingent of New Zealand’s victorious squad however, their development will continue many kilometres from home, as they return to club action in Europe and Asia.
Captain Hannah Kraakman will travel back to London, where she represents Bloomsbury Futsal. The Golden Boot winner will be joined by teammates Dayna Manak and Tessa Leong, who all made the move to the English capital as a means of furthering their futsal opportunities.
“Initially moving over there, they play a full season, so nine months of the year we get to play 2-3 games a month and train twice a week, so that kind of step up and the amount of futsal contact you’re having really helped with my touch and technical ability,” Kraakman explained.
As well as helping to improve technical abilities, the physical challenge has proved to be a welcome one, for Tessa Leong especially.
“The players are very physical one the ball and in the games the speed is a bit quicker.
“That’s been good for me as a somewhat smaller player, to learn to be a bit more physical in those situations,” Leong explained.
Joining Kraakman and Leong in the trio of London-based players is Dayna Manak. She was the star turn in the final at the OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup, winning Player of the Match for her performance against Fiji and was keen to emphasis the benefit of facing a new type of player overseas.
“Getting to play with very different players, getting to improve with new coaches from overseas – the boys have got to train with a Spanish coach and us getting to play with English players who play in Tier 1, has taught us some awesome new formations and tactics, so some really cool opportunities we’re getting,” she said.
Also heading back overseas, but to a culture far removed from that of either the UK or New Zealand, is Shivy Anthony, as she resumes her life on and off the court in Japan, where she represents Veex Tokyo Ladies.
That cultural challenge had been daunting at first but Anthony is confident that she’s beginning to acclimatise.
“Going to training and trying to play games in a whole different language has been a huge challenge for myself.
“It’s definitely been tough but I persevered and I feel like I’m slowly coming out the other side and starting to actually enjoy the futsal!” Anthony said,
The chance to play in countries whose futsal development pathways are a little further down the road than those in Oceania was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed for the quartet, who are already reaping the rewards, having lifted the trophy in Honiara.
Whilst OFC and their Member Associations continue to work hard on improving development pathways and playing opportunities for young women futsal talent, the chance to experience the sport overseas is an exciting alternative. Those fortunate enough to have the chance to do so, will be helping to raise not just their own game, but to make a positive impact on their national team’s performances too.
For Kraakman, Manak, Leong and Anthony, next year’s FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ in the Philippines will be the ultimate test of just how far their and their team’s development has come.