Nelson’s 12th grade futsal team are national champions.
Nelson Bays Football sent three age group sides to the tournament in Wellington, where the 12th grade side finished on top. The 14th grade side lost to the eventual winners in the semi-finals and the 16th grade side missed out on a spot in the final on goal difference only, after finished second-equal after pool play.
Futsal is a five-a-side game played on a small indoor court.
NBF general manager Clive Beaumont says he was thrilled with the success and says it’s especially remarkable considering Nelson doesn’t even have a junior futsal league. “These boys got together for four weeks of training and were playing against teams that play week in, week out.”
All of the Nelson sides were coached by Ben Wright, and Clive says he’s hoping to have a junior futsal league established in term 4 of this year. “Futsal certainly develops football skills much faster and it’s now an internationally recognised code in its own right. It’s huge in places like Spain and Brazil.”
Van Rolan Hlawnceu, who played in Nelson’s 16th grade team, was voted as player of the tournament.
