Five Minutes with Kim Smith

Player Interview F-League 2013

 

BFS: Kim, you have been involved in Futsal in the ACT for long time but this is your first season with Boomerangs. How have you found the experience so far?

So far the experience of training with the Boomerangs has been excellent. The club’s dynamic is supportive and professional, and the commitment demonstrated by existing players is inspirational to those coming into the fold. It has certainly lived up to expectation.

BFS: How important is it for futsal to be taken seriously by players and coaches alike both in ACT, and Australia wide?

Very important. ACT Futsal has always been strong in regards to the National Championships, however it’s local competitions pale in comparison to those operating in NSW and Queensland. The lack of official futsal clubs and general infrastructure has led to the sport being largely perceived as a social endeavour, or a summer alternative to soccer. As a result, futsal has struggled to live up to the professionalism of its outdoor counterpart, even at the higher levels.
The recent push towards club infrastructure and involvement of accredited coaches in the ACT Futsal Premier League has certainly been a step in the right direction; Boomerangs FS is an excellent example to its credit.

BFS: The F-League is an exciting opportunity for female futsal players, how do you see this league developing your game? And women’s futsal in general?

The inaugural season of the women’s F-League is the perfect stage to promote futsal to the public, as well as raise the stature of women’s futsal in general. The quality of younger players coming up through the ranks these days is excellent, and I’m sure many have been waiting for a professional platform like this to showcase their talent and passion for the sport.

As a somewhat more experienced player, I feel the opportunities offered by the F-League have come at the perfect time. While my own skills and knowledge of the game are certainly developed, I feel I have just as much to gain and learn as the newer players.

BFS: What are you most looking forward to with regards to the F-League?

The thing that I am most looking forward to in the F-League is the competition. It will be interesting to see how teams change or adapt their style for the second or third rounds, in comparison to their performance in the first. Furthermore, after playing in Futsal National Championships it has often felt like months of build-up concluding in a somewhat brief tournament; I feel the F-League will certainly be a fairer measure of each team’s ability, and will provide greater opportunity for consistent teams to show their worth.

BFS: Do you know much about the other teams participating? And which team are you most worried about going into the 2013 F-League?

I have heard a bit about the other teams in the competition; however this is mainly of the big names being signed. The Sydney Scorpions look to have a solid team, however with the amount of quality players being mentioned across the board I doubt there will be any one powerhouse team to worry about. I look forward to it being a closely contested competition.

BFS: How is the team progressing so far?

The new look Boomerangs team is progressing very well. With a combination of new and old players, as well as a mixture of youth and experience, it is promising to produce an exciting dynamic. The standard being exhibited at training sessions is high, and with healthy competition for game-day spots it is likely to be a very competitive outfit come kick-off.

BFS: Which player should opposing teams look out for in the 2013 Women’s F-League?

There are a few players in the Boomerangs team to look out for, but I think opposing teams will take notice of two particular players: Ashleigh and Brittany Palombi. These sisters have great heads for futsal, refined skills, and pace to burn – plus they exhibit those elusive combinations of play that only come from years and years of practice. I have played against both these girls for many years, so I know firsthand what it is like to be at the opposite end of the court.

BFS: Thanks for your time and good luck for the 2013 F-League.