Mainland Players Named Futsal Whites for World Cup Qualifier

Mainland Players Named in Futsal Whites for World Cup Qualifiers

Three Mainland Futsal players have this week been named in the NZF Futsal Whites squad to compete in the OFC Futsal Championship in Fiji next week; the tournament doubling as the Oceania qualifier for FIFA’s Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.

Outfielders Daniel Burns, Jakub Sinkora join keeper Atta Elayyan in the 14 man squad, which, on the back of a 10 game unbeaten run will go into the 6 nation’s tournament with plenty of confidence.

“Futsal is a growing sport in its own right, and the inclusion of three of the region’s top players in the national squad is exciting for the sport locally, as it shows junior players what they can achieve.” says Ronan Naicker, Futsal development officer - Mainland Football.

The New Zealand side, along with Tahiti and the Solomon Islands will be favourites to take out the tournament, but if the Futsal Whites were to win the tournament it would be the Kiwi teams first trip to the World Cup, and Mr Naicker adds that “qualification would be the perfect reward for all the hard work put into futsal over the last 5 years.”

Sinkora and Elayyan are among 1500 registered players in Canterbury competitions, while Burns is a member of New South Wales side Dural, competing in Australia’s toughest league.

“Playing in Australia provides the opportunity to develop players to a higher level, preparing them for the quality of play we can expect at the OFC Futsal Championship.”

The Futsal Whites finished third in the 2011 qualifier, following a dramatic penalty shootout against Tahiti.

The six team tournament will see the Futsal Whites play five games in six days against Vanuatu, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia.

The Futsal Whites first game will be against Vanuatu, Monday 8 February, 6.30pm (NZ time)

ENDS

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