NSW players dominate Futsalroos squad
Futsalroos Head Coach Rob Varela announced the fourteen players set to represent Australia at the forthcoming 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with 13 out of the 14 players hailing from NSW.
Varela’s squad – which features experienced Futsalroos including Greg Giovenali, Daniel Fogarty and Gavin O’Brien – will venture to Vietnam on October 16 and play preparatory matches against two top Vietnam Futsal League teams prior to the commencement of the AFF Futsal Championship on October 21.
At the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship the Futsalroos will compete in Group B of the competition alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Group A will feature Thailand, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia.
Varela’s squad will be gunning to finish in the top three at the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in order to secure a place at the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship, which will be held in Turkmenistan in February and March next year.
The 2020 AFC Futsal Championship doubles as the qualifying process for next year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be hosted by Lithuania.
“We are really excited to return to international competition,” Varela said. “We are under no illusions regarding how hard the assignment will be but we are looking forward to proving ourselves to be very competitive.”
“Our squad comprises of some familiar names like Greg Giovenali, Tobias Seeto, Daniel Fogarty and Jarrod Basger, as well as some new exciting young talent in Daniel Fornito, Carlos De Oliveira, Ahmed Sweedan and 16-year-old Ethan de Melo.
“I’m sure these players will do their best to make Australian futsal fans proud,” he said.
One huge inclusion is Blacktown City and Ultra Football Team of the Year star defender Grant Lynch who also plays futsal with UTS Northside.
Futsalroos 14-Player Squad | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| Name | Position |
| Gavin O’BRIEN | Goalkeeper |
| Adam COOPER (Vic Vipers) | Flanker |
| Jarrod BASGER | Flanker |
| Greg GIOVENALI (Dural Warriors) | Pivot |
| Nathan NISKI (Dural Warriors) | Pivot |
| Wade GIOVENALI (Dural Warriors) | Flanker |
| Tobias SEETO (London Helvecia Futsal Club) | Pivot |
| Daniel FORNITO (Inner West Magic) | Flanker |
| Grant LYNCH (UTS Northside) | Target |
| Daniel FOGARTY (Inner West Magic) | Flanker |
| Carlos DE OLIVEIRA (Dural Warriors) | Flanker |
| Andrew HAIM (Campbelltown City Quake) | Goalkeeper |
| Ahmed SWEEDAN (Dural Warriors) | Flanker |
| Ethan DE MELO (Mascot Vipers) | Target |
Futsalroos | Match Schedule | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship (Group B) | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam v Australia
Date: Monday, 21 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
Australia v Malaysia
Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
Indonesia v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
