Futsalroos named for AFF Futsal Championship

We congratulate Boomerangs Angelo Konstantinou for once again being named as one of three ‘keepers to travel to Asia with the squad this week.

Previously, Daniel Fulton has represented Australia playing for the Futsalroos, and Boomerangs players Jake Wilsener, Michael Reeve and Cal Smith were invited to train with the Futsalroos squad in a lead up to this tournament.

We wish the team the best in this tournament.

The following is from the FFA website….

Futsalroos Head Coach Steven Knight has selected a 14-player squad that will compete at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Miracle of Life Futsal Championship 2013 at Bangkok Thonburi University, Bangkok, Thailand from 19-27 October 2013.

The AFF Miracle of Life Futsal Championship 2013 will also serve as the qualification tournament for the AFC Futsal Championships with the top 3 teams progressing to the tournament which will be held in Vietnam.

Seven players were part of the Futsalroos squad that competed at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.

After recent success at the Trans-Tasman Series and OFC Futsal Championship Invitational, Knight believes his team is ready for the tournament.

“We are definitely looking forward to the competition,” said Knight

“It’s a strong squad and the players who missed out made the final selections a very difficult process.”

“We have been fortunate with the draw but cannot take any game lightly and have set up two training games prior to the tournament to ensure that we are fully prepared.

“This is the first step in the campaign to the next FIFA Futsal World Cup,” concluded Knight.

The Futsalroos will depart for Bangkok tomorrow (Wednesday 16 October 2013) and will play two friendly matches against Bangkok FC (17 October) and Port Authority (18 October) to prepare for their opening Group B match against Timor Leste on Sunday 20 October (10:00am local, 2:00pm AEDT).

The Futsalroos will then face Laos on Monday 21 October (10:00am local, 2:00pm AEDT), Myanmar on Tuesday 22 October (1:00pm local, 5:00pm AEDT) and then Indonesia on Wednesday 23 October (1:00pm local, 5:00pm AEDT).

The top teams of each group will progress to the semi-finals on Friday 25 October with the Final and 3rd placed play-off on Sunday 27 October.

FUTSALROOS SQUAD – AFF Miracle of Life Futsal Championship 2013

Jarrod BASGER, Adam COOPER, Fernando DE MORAES, Daniel FOGARTY, Gregory GIOVENALI, Wade GIOVENALI, Shervin KESHAVARZ, Angelo KONSTANTINOU (gk), Dean LOCKHART, Roberto MAIORANA (gk), Raymond MILLER, Marino MUSUMECI, Tobias SEETO and Peter SPATHIS (gk)

Team Officials
Head Coach: Steven Knight
Assistant Coach: Robert Varela
GK Coach: Roger Cua
Physiotherapist: Deane Stephens
Team Manager: Vito Basile

For more information regarding the AFF Miracle of Life Futsal Championship 2013 please visit www.aseanfootball.org