Otago United & Futsal
a Full On, Final Weekend
Rab Smith

Otago United and Footballsouth convey their sadness and sympathy to Mainland Football with regard to the tragic loss of life and earthquake damage incurred in Christchurch.

Otago has many strong connections with Canterbury, and the Christchurch based players who have chosen to play for United in recent seasons have become firm favourites with local supporters.

There was doubt as to whether that group would be playing for Otago against Waitakere on Sunday, but senior coach Malcolm Fleming – at the time of writing – said that they were keen to be involved in the final ASB Premiership match.

Fleming said,’ Those Christchurch players have been an important element in our ASB campaign this season.’

‘ Keeper Adam Highfield - who was selected in the January ASB Team of the Month - has been exceptional, Tom Sadd is a rock in central defence,  Jimmy Reichwein has given his all, and recently Chris Anderson has led our attack with flair. ’

‘ If Nathan Knox – now in Oz – had been allowed to play with Chris ( Anderson ) they could have been dynamic, and I am sure we would have collected many more points,’ said Fleming of his Christchurch imports.

He also acknowledges the imports contribution in setting standards for young local players, such as striker Ant Hancock, Harley Rodeka and Tom Connor.

Of course Otago’s own key players Andy Coburn, Tim Horner, Aaron Burgess, and Tristan Prattley also helped drive the swag of local youngsters onwards at training, and in carefully selected ASB matches.

It will be Coburn's last match before leaving for Australia, and the talented midfielder who clocked up more than a hundred national league matches will be hard to replace.

Coach Fleming’s furrowed brow will be evident again this week as he selects a blend to take on the intimidating Waitakere  a team that Otago has beaten just once in 17 outings.

Football legionaire Paul Seaman will make his 91st ASB Premiership appearance, if selected Seaman has scored a total of 12 goals for three clubs – Auckland City, Otago United and Waitakere United - since the competition began in 2004.

Otago United has beaten Waitakere United just once since the ASB Premiership began in 2004. That was a 1-0 home success in 2005. Since then they have drawn two and lost five at home to the West Aucklanders.

Waitakere’s Sean Lovemore is unavailable because of the 30-day stand down period following his stint with the Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League. Fiji international striker, Roy Krishna, remains on the injured list after dislocating his wrist on OFC Champions League duty in Tahiti.

Waitakere United start this match as overwhelming favourites. Victory for Waitakere United will seal their minor premiership.

But Otago chairman Dave Lamont aims to harness local support with free admission at Tahuna park for the 2 pm kick-off, and the first 100 vehicles will be given a free match ball as a momento of the 2011 season.

A collection from spectators will be given to the Red Cross for use in the earthquake ravaged Christchurch.

Otago United squad : 1-Adam HIGHFIELD (GK), 6-Tom SADD, 8- Paul SEAMAN, 9- Aaron BURGESS, 11- Andy COBURN, 12-James REICHWIEN, 13-Callum FLAWS (GK), 16- James GOVAN, 18-Harley RODEKA, 19- Chris ANDERSON, 20- Matt BROOK, 21-Liam LOCKHART, 23-Ant HANCOCK, 24- Curtis DAY, 26-Tristan PRATTLEY, 27-Morgan DAY, 28- Sam MEPHAN.

Waitakere squad :1-Danny ROBINSON (GK), 2- Jason ROWLEY, 3-Aaron SCOTT, 4-Tim MYERS, 6-Jack PELTER, 7- Martin BULLOCK, 8- Chris BALE, 10-Allan PEARCE, 13-Mike GWYTHER, 14- Tim PAYNE, 16-Neil EMBLEN, 17-Jake BUTLER (c), 18-Zane SOLE, 19-Dakota LUCAS, 20- Ryan de VRIES, 24- Luke ADAMS, 28- Andy RALPH (GK)

Fsouth Futsal in Auckland
The inaugural NZ Football Futsal National League reaches its conclusion
this weekend at ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland, with only Australian guests Maccabi Hakoah certain to qualify for the semi finals on Sunday
afternoon.

Fsouth Futsal team manager Oz said,' Following the disappointing round of fixtures at their home venue of the Edgar Centre last month, Football South Futsal (FSF) head north to the NZ Football National Futsal league in Auckland this weekend hoping for an upturn in fortunes and a late surge which could carry them to the semi-finals.

Restructuring to the squad sees National Futsal League debuts scheduled for Peter Rae, Samir Dabous, Mauricio Oliveria and Mike Wheeler. FSF will look to these new additions to provide impetus and inspiration in the third and final round of fixtures. Sean McIntee, Luke Macris and Darren Hart will once again be key to the fortunes of this youthful, energetic side.

Current standings see FSF occupying 5th place in the National Futsal League, but a solid start on saturday could see FSF rise up the table to claim a top 4 finish and the chance to compete against East City, Capital City Futsal and Maccabi Hakoah in the semifinals.

The return of head coach Luiz Uehara following his return to his homeland of Brazil will provide a boost to a squad who were unfortunate to experience five straight defeats in Dunedin in February.

Narrow and undeserved losses to Red Sox Manawatu and Christchurch Futsal in the last set of fixtures prove that FSF have what it takes to compete at this level and while the squad assembled by FSF for this inaugural National League is very much a side in development, they are keen to finish with a bang and put on a show for the watching Futsal Whites coaching staff. 

Meanwhile, Maccabi have set the pace in the league and are unbeaten after the first two series. Star players Doron Pozniak, Denny Dutra and Daniel Fulton have been in red hot form, as has runaway golden boot leader, eighteen year old flanker Jarrod Basger (13 goals).

With NSW state player Jordan Mundell and experienced Futsalroo Simon Keith also on deck, the Australians are a tough proposition for their New Zealand counterparts. An injury to target Slava Platkov has been the only
setback to Maccabi thus far, but there is plenty of depth in the squad to
provide cover to a side currently ten points clear at the top of the table.

Hosts East City’s campaign started to gather momentum in Series Two at
Dunedin’s Edgar Centre, where they cracked home 25 goals in five games.
Miro Major and recent futsal convert Jakub Sinkora have both stamped their
class on the league and with a host of current and ex-Futsal Whites
(Nathan Robertson, Bakr Al-Saudi, Andrew Gwilliam, James Hart, Dylan
Manickum, Elias Billeh and Clayton Chappell) in the squad, the Aucklanders
will fancy their chances on their home court.

The enigmatic Capital City Futsal side entertained with some captivating
futsal on their home court in Series One, only to lose ground throughout
most of the February series in Dunedin. A 6-0 thrashing of Football South
Futsal in their final game got Brian Blellock’s men back on track and
ensured them of a spot in the semi finals. With Futsal White target Said
Soleimanpour (4 goals) in good form, and young pivot Taiki Davey showing plenty of promise, Capital have as good a chance as any New Zealand side of upsetting the rampant Maccabi.

Manawatu Red Sox were the big improvers in Series Two, with the pace and
finishing of newly recruited front-men Greg O’Connor (4 goals) and
Nathaniel Wright (6 goals) proving a handful for all their opponents. Two
wins in Auckland should ensure a semi-final spot for Murray Burling’s
team, who currently sit five points clear of Football South Futsal.

The youthful Christchurch Futsal side, led by Chilean pivot Jorge Donoso, were a much improved outfit in Dunedin and though unlikely contenders for a semi-final spot, will look to build towards the next National League later in 2011.

Series Three is also the final opportunity for New Zealand based players
to show their credentials in front of Futsal Whites Head Coach Matt Chandler. The Futsal Whites training squad for the 2011 OFC FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament will be announced shortly after the conclusion of the final series.

NZ Football Futsal National League 2010/11
SERIES 3 INCLUDING FINALS
5-6 March 2011

Games will be streamed live on www.nzfootball.co.nz

Sat 5 March

8.00am Christchurch Futsal v East City (Auckland)
9.00am Football South Futsal (Dunedin) v Maccabi Hakoah (Sydney)
10.00am Capital City Futsal (Wellington) v Red Sox
11.00am East City v Football South Futsal
12.00pm Christchurch Futsal v Capital City Futsal
1.00pm Maccabi Hakoah v Red Sox
2.00pm Football South Futsal v Christchurch Futsal
3.00pm Capital City Futsal v Maccabi Hakoah
4.00pm Red Sox v East City
5.00pm Maccabi Hakoah v Christchurch Futsal
6.00pm Football South Futsal v Red Sox
7.00pm East City v Capital City Futsal

Sun 6 March
8.00am Red Sox v Christchurch Futsal
9.00am Capital City Futsal v Football South Futsal
10.00am East City v Maccabi Hakoah
12.00pm Semi Final 1: 1 v 4
1.00pm Semi Final 2: 2 v 3
3.00pm FINAL