Hummel F-League Mens Team Previews 2013
Football NSW takes you through all the Hummel F-League clubs with features on Player to Watch, Rising Star, the history of the club and loads more in anticipation of the 2013 season.
BOOMERANGS FS
Member Federation: Capital Football Year Established: 2008
Website: www.boomerangsfs.com.au Email: info@boomerangsfs.com.au
History
Formed by Kristian Collins and Eddie Senatore following a 2008 Futsal tour of Japan, Boomerangs FS is a Canberra-based club dedicated to providing playing and development opportunities to Futsal players across the ACT region. Boomerangs entered the 2009 NSW Super League with an eye to being promoted to premier league over a five-year period, but earlier than expected success saw the club elevated by the end of its second season. Boomerangs hold the same ambitions for its F-League campaign with an aim of giving its players even greater exposure at the highest level in Australia. A Boomerangs squad also travelled to Europe last year to take part in various competitions and matches against elite clubs and schools, with the side going on to win the NSW Premier League 16 boys title over summer.
Honours
2010-11 FNSW Super League Club Champions
Futsal NSW Premier League Champions various age groups
Player to Watch
Daniel Fulton
Daniel Fulton is regarded as one of Australia’s most talented Futsal players and was a huge signing for Boomerangs for the Hummel F-League. Playing pivot/flank, Fulton was the NSW Premier League leading scorer in 2012 with 24 strikes in 14 games (including eight goals in two matches against premiers Enfield) to underpin his most valuable player award in arguably Australia’s toughest Futsal competition. As a fringe Futsalroo you can bet Fulton will be out to prove he is a capable leader and true national team prospect as he takes on the role of directing a young Boomerangs outfit through the 2013 F-League.
Rising Star
Callum Smith
Callum Smith is a flashy young flanker with plenty of potential in his pocket. Smith has been an enthusiastic contributor at Boomerangs, his speed and creativity proving to be a great asset to the club’s junior ranks. He’s ready and eager to showcase his skills on a national stage in the Hummel F-League.
Coach
Simon Aitchison
Simon Aitchison has been involved in Futsal as a player and coach for a quarter of a century, and at one stage held the record for fastest ever Futsal World Cup goal. The former Futsalroo helped lead ACT Cobras to nationals success in January and brings a wealth of experience to Boomerangs in 2013. Aitchison is keen to see Boomerangs compete well with Australia’s leading teams.
Squad List
Daniel Fulton ©, Callum Smith, Sean O’Neill, Pat Ross-Magee, Thomas Zeitlhofer, Jonathan Ciminelli, Ryan Keir, Jason O’Dwyer, Sean Byrne, Nik Popovich, Michael Reeves, Daniel Bennett, Gianmarco Senatore, Jake Wilsener, Nick Rathjen, Kristian Collins, Glenn Smith, Angelo Konstantinou (gk), Keiran Stroh (gk), Nick Van Aalst (gk)
DURAL WARRIORS
Member Federation: Football NSW Year Established: 1994
Website: www.dslc.com.au Email: mseeto@bigpond.net.au
History
Formed in 1994, Dural Warriors is the representative Futsal club of Dural Sport & Leisure Centre playing in the NSW Futsal Premier League competition. Dural Warriors has a proud history in NSW Futsal competitions, winning many titles and filling its trophy cabinet to the brim. Their most recent triumph was the 2012/13 FNSW Premier League Premiership-Championship double, where they lost just one game, and a gallant semi-finals effort at the AFC club championship in Malaysia last month gives them plenty of hunger and form coming into their F-League title defence.
Honours
2012-2013 FNSW Premier League Premiers & Champions
2012 F-League Premiers
2011-2012 FNSW Premier League Champions
2010-2011 FNSW Premier League Premiers
Futsal NSW Premier League Champions various age groups
Players to Watch
Toby Seeto and Greg Giovenali
Current Futsalroos Toby Seeto and Greg Giovenali are the complete package. Noted for their rugged defence, they also pack a powerful offensive punch and have already devoured a feast of goals between them in top-level competitions this year. Both also have European credentials to underline their international quality with Seeto playing professionally in Spain and Giovenali in Italy.
Rising Star
Nathan Niski
Nathan Niski was a crucial component to Dural Warriors youth campaign that took out this year’s NSW Premier League premiership-championship double, culminating in Niski’s dramatic late winner to clinch the grand final victory. The youngster also joined Seeto, Giovenali and (2012 F-League Golden Boot winner) Jarrod Basger in the Futsalroo squad.
Coach
Rob Varela
Rob Varela needs little introduction to the national Futsal collective. As assistant coach of the Futsalroos, Varela’s had his eye on the wealth of Aussie talent for quite some time (almost three decades in fact) since taking on his first Futsal coaching role in the pre-internet days of 1985. Varela has held the reins at Dural for many years and was a huge reason for the Warriors victorious NSW Premier League summer quest, ending in a promising run at the AFC club championships in April.
Squad List
Daine Merrin ©, Toby Seeto, Greg Giovenali, Ben Lawson, Adam Bradley, David Kanaley, Glen Kelshaw, Nathan Niski, Wade Giovenali, Zach Caruana, Taka Iwata, Nathan Clissold, Jarrod Basger, Goran Ljuboja, Alastair Bruce (gk), Nick Star (gk), James Brunacci (gk)
EAST COAST HEAT
Member Federation: Football NSW Year Established: 2012
Website: www.eastcoastheatfc.com Email: eastcostheat@hotmail.com
History
Formed specifically for the 2012 Hummel F-League, East Coast Heat is excited about the future and plans to make itself a prominent name on the Futsal scene. Heat aims to be unique and has devised a strategy it hopes will capture the attention of the broader Futsal community, starting with a catchy name and enterprising list of players. Club officials believe a stronger national league will be a natural evolution for the F-League and see qualification for the AFC club championship as an important development for elite players. This year’s Heat squad is a blend of youth and experienced players and East Coast thanks its sponsors Indoor 5’s, SSFA Futsal, 5 Star Futsal, Futurecon and RPG Demolition for their continued support.
Honours
2012 F-League runners-up
Player to Watch
Chris Zeballos
Futsalroo Chris Zeballos will once again lead East Coast Heat into combat. At flank/pivot, the wily veteran possesses an innate ability to dribble and run past opponents with consummate ease and, more importantly, he knows how to score goals. Zeballos’ entertaining and charismatic style and skill set will be vital to the East Coast cause in this year’s F-League.
Rising Star
Jordan Guerreiro
Jordan Guerreiro will be a player to watch in the 2013 Hummel F-League. The super creative 18-year-old flank has the world at his feet, literally, whenever he gets the ball. Boasting a wicked shot off both feet and building in confidence and stature, Guerreiro is destined to be a star of Australian Futsal.
Coach
Jamie Amendolia
Jamie Amendolia started coaching Futsal five years ago after starring for Australia at two World Cups and a glittering two-decade long playing career. His natural progression into the coaching role reaped immediate rewards when Sydney Magic took out back-to-back NSW Premier League titles before Amendolia moved to Sydney City where he also guided the Eagles to a premier league title within two seasons. Many put Amendolia’s success down to his ability to move with the times and stay on top of competition and player developments, and he’s building for the future with East Coast, committed to training hard and hopeful of springing some surprises along the way.
Squad List
Chris Zeballos, Miles Downie, Chris Hanly, Ross Fazzalarro, Daniel Fornito, Jordan Guerreiro, Robbie Issa, Simon Keith, Scott Madden, Shane Ardyle, Jordan Mundall, Lev Lewis, Doran Pozniak, Robert Ezekiel, Clayton Musumeci, Peter Spathis (gk), David Plowright (gk), Andrew Haim (gk)
JAGUARS
Member Federation: Football Federation Victoria Year Established: 2001
Website: www.australianfutsalgroup.com.au Email: planetsoccer@iprimus.com.au
History
Jaguars Futbol Sala Club is a branch of Australian Futsal Group, which has been operating in Victoria since 2001. The club is based in Melbourne’s north-west and currently runs programs for juniors from four years old right through to open age. Jaguars have enjoyed plenty of success over the past five years, crowned 2011 AFG Cup Champions to go with a stack of youth titles, and a healthy 70-80 juniors have represented Victoria at nationals over the last decade. A number of these players gone on to some of the biggest outdoor clubs around the world, including England, Turkey, Chile, Argentina, and to Melbourne Victory and Heart.
Honours
Melbourne Futsal League Champions various age groups
Player to Watch
Shervin Keshavarzadeli
Top goalscorer in NSW Premier League for Enfield Rovers, Shervin Keshavarzadeli adds plenty of experience and flair to a young Jaguars outfit. The exciting pivot will be a welcome addition to Jaguars, who needed a player of calibre to inspire, motivate and compose an enterprising group of talented young Futsal players.
Rising Star
James Szabo
Glovesman James Szabo will be busy in goals for Jaguars but the Futsal newcomer is more than up for the challenge. Szabo’s only played for just over year but his excellent footwork and quick reflexes has made him stand out from a pack of talented youngsters.
Coach
Jack Dugonjic
Jack Dugonjic has a coaching career that spans three decades. He’s always been involved in running the game and helped start up Jaguars to introduce and develop local kids into the sport of Futsal. He’s coached at all levels and has been a Victorian state Futsal coach for more than 10 years. Such has been Jaguars success that most juniors stay at the club to feed their senior teams. Dugonjic said the young Jaguars were not out to beat the world this year, but as all of his players have given up their outdoor commitments to concentrate on Futsal, he’s looking well into the future and has high hopes for his charges down the track.
Squad List
Reuben Langerak, Breno Polatti, Denny Dutra, Jermaine Deng, Zied Ben Fredj, Shervin Keshavarzadeli, Timothy Simon, Aguek Aguek, Jonathan Tabarkiewicz, Rocky Calfapietra, Edouard Ahkong, Abel Bahiru, Hayden Razbocan, Benjamin Geaboc, James Szabo (gk), Riziere Cua (gk)
MELBOURNE HEART
Member Federation: Football Federation Victoria Year Established: 2006
Website: www.cobrafutsal.com.au/mhfc Email: melbourneheart@cobrasfutsal.com.au
History
Inspired by a vision for a broad based community team celebrating cultural diversity and sporting passion through football, Melbourne Heart FC was established in 2009. On a mission to create the complete football club, Heart teamed up with Cobras Futsal Club to join the 2012 Hummel F-League. Cobras FC began in 2006 as a founding club in the Melbourne Futsal League and in its six years Cobras has grown in stature to now boast the largest number of female players and state representatives of any Victorian club. The Cobras developmental philosophy led them to organise a trip to Spain in 2011 to play, train and watch Futsal at the highest level at host club El Pozo Murcia.
Honours
Melbourne Futsal League Champions various age groups
Player to Watch
Anthony Ramzy
A fast, energetic player, Anthony Ramzy has such an understanding of where the goals are he could hit the target with his eyes closed. His work rate and effort, along with his acute skill and court awareness, has not gone unnoticed by Futsalroo coach Steve Knight.
Rising Star
Matthew Vragovski
He may be 16 years old but flank Mathew Vragovski has already proven he can match it with the big boys. A fast, intelligent and highly skilled player, Vragovski is hard to predict and beautiful to watch in full flight. Having been a state representative player for the past four years as well as making his senior team debut at the age of 14, Vragovski is definitely a player to keep an eye on (if you can) during the 2013 Hummel F-League.
Coach
Edgard Vatcky
Edgard Vatcky’s credentials speak volumes for his ability. Head coach of Football Federation Victoria and assessor and presenter of Futsal coaching education in Victoria, Vatcky has built a reputation on learning from the best mentors around the world. A big fan of the fast attacking game of famed Spanish Futsal giant El Pozo, Vatcky will be looking at getting his squad to play a similar brand in the 2013 Hummel F-League.
Squad List
Brett Richardson, Konrad Machoy, Jordan Michaelis, Christian Skok, Matthew Vragovski, Shayan Rashidi, Callum Davies, Hossain Mirzaie, Resit Culculoglu, Giancarlo Romano, Tuan Cao, Anthony Ramzy, David Filonzi, Muhammed Tankir, Cesur Cicekdag, Fikri Bozdogan, Scott Fenn, Ryan Timmins (gk), Aaron Yu (gk), James Brennan (gk)
ST ALBANS STRIKERS
Member Federation: Football Federation Victoria Year Established: 2006
Website: www.strikersfutsal.com Email: lakovski.robert.r@edumail.vic.gov.au
History
Founded in 2006, St Albans Strikers have been at the forefront of Futsal in Victoria for the past seven years. The Strikers men’s side has been a leading outfit in the Melbourne Futsal League and a trailblazer at interstate competitions having participated in the 2010 Sydney Invitational and then finishing second in the inaugural 2011 Hummel F-League in Sydney. Its juniors are widely recognised as being some of the best in the state with many youngsters selected to Victorian representative teams. St Albans is involved in running community programs for new refugee arrivals to Australia and runs a well-received grassroots competition featuring more than 30 senior and 32 junior teams playing.
Honours
2012 Melbourne Futsal League Senior Men’s Runners-Up
2011 F-League Runners-Up
2011 Melbourne Futsal League runners-up
2011 Melbourne Futsal Knockout Champions
2010 Melbourne Futsal League Champions
2009 Melbourne Futsal League Senior Men’s Champions
Player to Watch
Jose Portillo
Recently appointed captain of the Strikers, flank/target Jose Portillo is looking to take his game to a new level in 2013. Possessing a lethal shot and very dangerous when he’s running at defenders, Portillo will definitely be a handful for F League opponents.
Rising Star
Danny Slovacek
17-year-old utility Danny Slovacek has started this year’s Futsal action with a bang, impressing many Melbourne pundits with how quick he’s molded into a senior player with great maturity, quickness, tenacity and a willingness to put his body on the line. A junior St Albans representative since 2009, Slovacek is itching to break into the squad’s starting five and help the Strikers to F-League glory.
Coach
Robert Lakovski
Robert Lakovski has some pretty hefty credentials in his back pocket. The former Victorian representative junior also played for Preston in the NSL in the early 1990s before retiring from professional football due to a serious knee injury. He’s been coaching at junior and senior Futsal for the past 15 years, including leading his school St Albans Secondary College’s U13 and U14 sides to podium finishes at nationals, and guiding St Albans Strikers to the 2009 MFL championship. Overall, Lakovski has helped St Albans College to nearly 20 state Futsal titles since arriving at the school gates as a PE teacher in 1998, eventually turning the student competitions into a successful association.
Squad List
Jose Portillo ©, Jusuf Avdic, Vadim Mazurskiy, Dino Redzepovic, Alija Redzepovic, Damir Salcin, Tomislav Grgic, Clint Mogoai, Josh Slovacek, Felipe Tadashi Yamashita, Danny Slovacek, Ruzaini Roslan, Antonis Apostolakis, Mark Borchert, Vic Koutsoufis, Gavin Schipp, Lionel De Souza (gk), Mark Brackenrig (gk), Cem Bicer (gk), Liam Digby (gk)
SYDNEY SCORPIONS
Member Federation: Football NSW Year Established: 2013
Website: www.sydneyscorpions.com.au Email: matteo@sydneyscorpions.com.au
History
Combine four successful NSW Premier League clubs, add a liberal dose of state and national representatives, put a legend of the game in charge and you end up with a very competitive F-League entry – but Sydney Scorpions is no flash in the pan participant. Only players from the combined Inner West Magic, Enfield Rovers, Mascot Vipers and Campbelltown Quake super-force are allowed to play for Scorpions to give the clubs’ juniors a genuine pathway to top-level competition in Australia, and they’ve already assembled a very decent squad led by Futsalroo stars Lachlan Wright and Daniel Fogarty.
Honours
Nil
Player to Watch
Daniel Fogarty
The exceptional flank has become a Futsalroos mainstay after his three goals in last year’s World Cup Qualifiers proved instrumental to Australia’s appearance at Thailand 2012. Fogarty’s speed and stamina will leave many opponents swiping at air as is definitely one to watch for MVP honours.
Rising Star
Aaron Cimitile
At 22 years old the skillful pivot is one of the youngest players on the national scene but already he’s proved his place thanks to greater consistency to match his obvious talent. Cimitile’s rising star can only shine better with another good performance in the F-League.
Coach
Glen Lockhart
A Futsalroo assistant coach for three years and NSW chief for eight, well-established Glen Lockhart is very experienced at handling high-level players. He’s a coach that commands respect and is high on discipline – a perfect fit for a young Scorpions side.
Squad List
Lachlan Wright ©, Dylan Maloney, Daniel Fogarty, Mark Symington, Andrew Paine, Jacob Di Mento, Marino Musumeci, Ediz Alpkaya, Aaron Cimitile, Patrick Pace, Isaac Wadick, Dean Lockhart, Johnathan Kontalis, Danny Martinez, Robert Foti, Roberto Maiorana (gk), Oliver Lawton (gk), Marcello Bortone (gk)
VIC VIPERS
Member Federation: Football Federation Victoria Year Established: 1999
Website: www.vicvipersfc.com.au Email: info@vicvipersfc.com.au
History
The Victorian Vipers Futsal Club sprung from a need to offer training, playing and touring opportunities to players with a genuine interest in pursuing the sport at the highest levels. The club is the oldest surviving and arguably most successful Futsal model in Victoria and boasts up to eight players in the current Victorian senior squad. It also has three Futsalroos on its books. The Vipers is the only Victorian club to have represented Australia at FIFA and AMF (the sport’s world governing bodies) World Cups and international level as a coach or player. Their trophy cabinet is overflowing with state and national titles, the V- League Cup and League double, Football Federation Victoria State Championships, 5-a-side football Vodafone and Hyundai Championships and FFA Futsal championship awards. The Vipers also have a global gloss having toured and played against international club teams in exchanges with Thailand, China, Catalonia, Russia, France and England. Their F-League squad reflects this with players boasting backgrounds from Brazil, Colombia and Chile, and three of Western Australia’s hottest Futsal stars.
Honours
2013 Melbourne Futsal League Champions (leading Melbourne Premier League)
Player to Watch
Fernando De Moraes
Many regard Fernando De Moraes as Australia’s best Futsal player. A vital member of the Futsalroos that contested the FIFA Futsal World Cup last November, the gifted flank/target has enjoyed plenty of success throughout his career, including winning the Victorian Premier League with South Melbourne in 2006, claiming the VPL 2010 player of the year award, V-League 2009/10 MVP award and captaining the Futsalroos at many international tournaments. De Moraes likes to lead by example and lifting the 2013 Hummel F-League title won’t be out of the question if he’s firing on all cylinders.
Rising Star
Adam Cooper
Flank Adam Cooper has what it takes to star in the 2013 Hummel F-League. A product of the academy youth system in Victoria, Cooper has come along in leaps and bounds and given up outdoor football to focus on Futsal. He can play with both feet, usually starts in defence but scores plenty of goals with excellent technique and deadly freekicks. Along with Vipers captain John Barientos, the dynamic dup could play a key part in Futsal’s national set-up over the next decade.
Coach
Milton Sakkos
Milton Sakkos is an old hat with fresh attitudes in Futsal circles. He has held multiple state coaching roles from 2001 and was an assistant coach for the Futsalroos at the 2004 World Cup. Sakkos was Victorian State Futsal Coaching Director from 2005-2008 and has been Vipers head coach since the beginning of time (1999). He also has the credentials to back up his on-court experience and success with Sakkos holding a Degree in Applied Science & Physical Education, a Masters in Coaching, AFC C-Licence Coach and is a qualified EBF International Futsal License and Instructor. Sakkos will be assisted by Spiro Kargas and Garry Liakoureas.
Squad List
John Barrientos ©, Adam Cooper, Vinicius Leite, Thiago Priori, Laban Stringer, Kui Mu, Victor Brauner, Fernando De Moraes, Jason Barrientos, Ricardo Castro, Hiep Tran, Mirza Pedic, Miguel Barrigos, Maxim Avram, Gabriel Lucena, Kevin Barrientos, Diego Garcia, Kieran Pates (gk), Christos Apostolakis (gk), Joseph Baker (gk)
-By Dan De Nardi
