Futsal kicks off season with Premier/Super League Launch
Representatives from each of the 22 clubs from both the Premier and Super League teams were present at the launch which also had a special exhibition clash between the Men?s and Women?s Premier League taking on their counterparts in the Super League.
A feast of Futsal fever also gripped Dural as stars from the past also made appearances in an epic ex-Futsalroos exhibition match. The likes of ex-Futsaloos players such as Robert Stuart, Erkin Osman, John White, Bruce Thurlow, Jamie Amendolia, Steve Knight and Radovan Filipovic were just some of the former legends on show.
Known as a staunch Futsal follower, ?Mr Football? himself Andy Paschalidis was the MC on the day as he got the show rolling with his trademark antics.
Approximately 2000 aspiring Futsal stars will take centre stage across nine different age groups for season 2009 in accredited Futsal venues from across NSW.
Open Mens, Open Womens, Youth Men, U16 Boys, U16 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, Under 12 Boys and Under 12 Girls will be the age groups selected for both Futsal competitions.
Eight teams will compete in the elite Futsal Premier League competition while fourteen will compete in the Super League.
Each team in the Premier League will be playing each other twice in a home and away scenario with a number of clubs looking towards taking that vital Championship trophy for 2009.
Campbelltown City Quake, Inner West Allstars and Sydney City Eagles have been tipped to battle it out for laying claim as being the best in the Premier League but there could be a couple more clubs knocking on that long list of candidates.
New boys on the block Sydney Benfica FC could well be the surprise packet in the Premier League after taking out the Super League Club Championship in 2008 while the Dural Warriors gained promotion after the withdrawal of Premier League Club Sydney Magic PCYC.
The Super League will also be seen as an exciting battle for the Club Championship as it will see four new teams enter the fray.
West City Crusaders were relegated from the Premier League in 2008 so they?ll be pinning their hopes in re-entering the top tier Futsal competition once more while newly formed outfit Hill Brumbies and ACT?s Boomerangs FS have also been included.
Liverpool Fusion will once again be part of the Futsal set-up after returning to the competition with their last involvement being in 2007-2008 in the Premier League.
South Coast Taipans have been tipped to be the front runners in the Super League as well as the Enfield Rovers but overall the Super League competition will be hard fought till the end by all fourteen clubs chasing glory in all age groups.
The commencement of both competitions kicks off on Saturday 3rd October 2009 with details of full fixture listings visible on Football NSW?s official website www.footballnsw.com.au under the Futsal Competitions section.
Futsal History
The Futsal elite competitions commenced in 2005/06 with 15 clubs taking part.
In 2006/07 the Futsal league expanded to 17 clubs where every team played each other once
In 2007/08, the Futsal league had grown immensely prompting the decision to enforce two divisions; the Premier League consisted of 8 clubs with teams playing in a home and away format. While the Super League consisted of 11 teams with clubs playing each other once.
In 2008/09, the Futsal league grew again with the Premier League having 8 clubs playing a home and away format. The Super League was now 14 teams with clubs playing each other once
Finally for season 2009/10, the Futsal league grew again with the Premier League having 8 clubs playing a home and away format. The Super League was now 14 teams with clubs playing each other once. All but two clubs are still around from the inaugural season Premier and Super League.
FOOTBALL NSW FUTSAL SQUADS
PREMIER LEAGUE 09/10
Campbelltown City Quake
Dural Warriors
FCB Commodores
Inner West Allstars
Mascot Vipers
Sydney Benfica FC
Sydney City Eagles
Western Raiders
SUPER LEAGUE 09/10
APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Boomerangs FS
Botany Bay Pirates
Breakers Futsal Club
Enfield Rovers
Greater Western Sydney Vikings
Hills Brumbies
Liverpool Fusion
Maccabi Hakoah FC
Northern Tigers
Sutherland Shire Futsal
South Coast Taipans
UTS Barcelona FC
West City Crusaders
