Futsal Premier League kicks off this weekend
Summer wouldn’t be complete without a healthy dose of Vitamin-Futsal and the 2014-15 Premier League is shaping up as a sizzling season.
Can anyone topple Inner West Magic as club champions (they’ve won eight trophies in nine years)?
Can anyone stop triple-defending champions Dural Warriors in the open and youth men’s?
Mountain Majik and Campbelltown Quake finished second and third in the club championship and will certainly look to build on last summer’s outstanding successes, Mascot Vipers winning three youth grand finals (16 Boys, 16 Girls and 14 Boys) to give them real zing, leaving Enfield Rovers and Phoenix to hope for massive improvement. New club UTS Northside makes an interesting addition to the premier league fold.
Futsal stalwart Matteo Maiorana acknowledged Inner West would again line-up this summer with a target on their backs, but he also felt the competition would be as tight as ever.
“While always confident in our club, Mountain Majik with their victory over us in the Magician’s Cup [a pre-season match-up between Magic and Majik] look like the club to beat,” he said. “They have improved from last season and they could be the club to take the trophy.”
“This year I expect to see Dural fighting for top honors and Enfield to be the big improvers.”
This Saturday’s opening round features a dream match-up between Inner West and Dural at Valentine Sports Park, Enfield tackle newcomers UTS Northside at Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre, Phoenix play Mountain Majik at Ryde Sports and Community Centre, while Mascot host Campbelltown at All Sorts Indoor Sports Centre.
It doesn’t get much bigger than Inner West Magic versus Dural Warriors at Valentine Sports Park. Dural have had a stranglehold on the men’s open and youth grades for several years while Inner West command the club champions crown. They’ve been great rivals over the years in all grades and this Saturday’s sizzler will probably be the 14 Girls after Magic dumped Warriors from last summer’s finals, although Dural returned the favour on their way to winning a thrilling Youth Men final.
Enfield Rovers meet newcomers UTS Northside at Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre. By their own standard Enfield will describe a slightly disappointing 2013/14 season, their biggest highlight being the Open Women suffering a heartbreaking penalty shootout grand final loss to Quake. But they won’t be rolling out the welcome mat for UTS, who head into summer on the back of a fantastic state league season where they won three deciders (Open Men, Open Women, 16 Girls) on the way to a stunning club championship and elevation to premier league
Mascot Vipers versus Campbelltown Quake at All Sorts Indoor Sports Centre will be a hot evening of action. Quake boast three premiers from last summer (Open Women, 16 Boys, 12 Boys), while Vipers boast three champions (16 Boys, 16 Girls, 14 Boys), and it’s the 16 Boys clash that’s sure to generate the most interest after premiers Campbelltown were toppled 4-3 in the grand final by third-placed Mascot.
Phoenix host Mountain Majik at Ryde Sports and Community Centre in an intriguing match-up. Phoenix struggled a little last summer but still landed finals spots in Youth Men, 16 Boys and 16 Girls, while Majik ripped off their newcomers tag to reach the post-season in six grades, winning the and 14 Girls and 12 Boys, and claiming second place on the club championship ladder.
