Gold Coast Futsal has been crowned champions at the annual Football Queensland (FQ) Futsal State Titles after the region secured two age group championships and the overall points tally.
Gold Coast secured the victory ahead of Sunshine Coast Futsal, which secured two age group championships in the action-packed two-day tournament held on the north side of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast on March 31 and April 1.
In an illustration of the tournament’s size, over 146 games were played over two days by over 350 participants, with an incredible 49 goals scored in age group Grand Finals alone.
Gold Coast, with five Grand Final appearances, secured the under-13 Boys and under-15 Girls divisions whilst Sunshine Coast grabbed the under-12 Boys and under-15 Boys respectively.
The two regions weren’t the only winners, as teams shared the spoils of the competition, with South West Queensland, Bundaberg, and Arana United each grabbing a title of their own.
Football Queensland Futsal Administrator Trevor Edwards said he was thrilled with the success of the tournament and the level of skill.
“From an organisational perspective and the quality of the games, across all the age groups, it (the tournament) was exceptional,” Mr Edwards said.
Mr Edwards said he has no doubt that the quality of the Futsal being played is improving, especially amongst young female participants.
“It is noticeable to me that more young players are realising the benefits of honing their skills through Futsal,” he said.
“At the Futsal Nationals in Canberra in January a NSW Coach said that he definitely saw an overall improvement in our QLD teams’ Futsal technical ability and structure – I saw evidence of this in our State Titles last weekend.
“My hat goes off to those coaches and volunteers in our numerous clubs and regions who are working hard to improve the standard of our sport.
“Off the court we have so many wonderful volunteers and support staff who are also contributing to the growth and standards of the game.”
Parent and spectator Roz Minnikin said she was impressed with a successful and professional tournament.
“From a spectator’s perspective it has to have been one of the best organised and well run Futsal events we’ve been to,” she said.
A minute silence was held before the under-17 Girls match on the opening day of the tournament, as a sign of respect for Sunshine Coast player Jade Dixson, who tragically lost her life in a car accident earlier in the week.
“Furthermore, the minute’s silence was a wonderful display of respect and displayed the unity of the entire Futsal family,” Mrs Minnikin said.
The FQ Futsal State Titles also acts as the trials for squads to be selected to compete in the 2019 FFA Futsal National Championships to be held in January.
From the tournament, eight teams will be selected to represent Queensland in the girls’ under-13, 15 and 17 age groups, and the boys’ under-12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 age groups.
2018 FQ FUTSAL STATE TITLES – Grand Final Results
Under-11 & 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast | 4 – 1 | Gold Coast
MVP: Nash Walker, Gold Coast
Best & Fairest: Jordan Richardson, Sunshine Coast Wave
Under-13 Boys
Gold Coast | 11 – 2 | Arana United
MVP: Luke Debnam, Peninsula
Best & Fairest: Jonah Townsend, Sunshine Coast Wave
Under-13 Girls
Arana United | 2 – 1 | Sunshine Coast
MVP: Kaitlin McCormack, Arana United
Best & Fairest: Jemma-Dee Allen, Sunshine Coast Wave
Under-14 & 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast U15s | 3 – 2 | Gold Coast U14s
MVP: Gabriell Murray, Gold Coast U15s
Best & Fairest: Kieron Mueller, Arana United U15s
Under-15 Girls
Gold Coast North | 8 – 1 | Gold Coast West
MVP: Sara Roussakis, Gold Coast South
Best & Fairest: Elyse Jonic, Gold Coast South
Under-16 Boys
Bundaberg | 4 – 3 | Gold Coast
MVP: Hein Kuyler, Bundaberg
Best & Fairest: Ben Bordin, Gold Coast
Under-17 Girls
South West Queensland | 6 – 1 | Sunshine Coast
MVP: Isabelle Harris, South West QLD
Best & Fairest: Robbin Bastiaans, Sunshine Coast Wave