Futsal Navy Blues ready for action

Words: ACFC Media

Tuesday 3 November 2020

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC make history as the club launches its Men's Futsal SuperLeague team.

The Futsal Navy Blues will be coached by Auckland City FC Academy Director Nic Downes for its inaugural campaign and takes its debut at the Northern Series on November 7-8, 2020, at The Peak in Hamilton.

They move on to the National Series scheduled for 20-22 November, 2020, at Bruce Pulman Arena in Auckland.

Downes, who was nominated for NZF Futsal Coach of the Year last season, has assembled a strong squad for the 2020 season but expects to trim it down as the campaign draws near.

Two names familiar to fans of the club's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership team are that of Yousif Ali Al-Kalisy and Dylan Manickum.

Manickum, voted NZF Futsal Player of the Year last year, will lead the side alongside fellow Futsal Whites Stephen Ashby, Josh Margetts, Elias Billeh and Marvin Eakins.

Downes, also the incumbent Futsal Ferns coach - says futsal is now woven fully into the Auckland City FC club offer to members.

FUTSAL - Auckland City FC launch Futsal Navy Blues

Auckland City FC make history as the club launches its Men's Futsal SuperLeague team.

#FutsalNavyBlues

| @PhototekNZ

#StrengthInUnity

Read more https://t.co/71VPnt2HvS pic.twitter.com/kqmrTH9F24
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 3, 2020

“This year we have seen the launch of our futsal academy through our skills programme for juniors and integration into our youth football premier teams. We see the value the small-sided game brings in the development of aspiring futsal and football players,” Downes said.

“Competing in the SuperLeague allows us to connect our futsal pathway from top to bottom as we continue to grow and develop futsal within the club.”

Auckland City FC chair Ivan Vuksich can’t wait to see how the club, with a global reach in the football landscape, can add real value in the futsal pathway in New Zealand.

“We are excited to be competing in the Men’s SuperLeague and provide the best futsal players in the region the opportunity to represent Auckland City FC,” Vuksich said.

The Futsal Navy Blues enjoyed a strong first win in a friendly clash with NFF Comets beating their rivals 5-0 thanks to goals from Aalok Paudel, Todd Broadhurst, Jimmy Banks, Hamish Grey and Jake Besenyi.

In the Southern Series, Southern United Futsal took top honours with a 5-2 win over Capital and a 4-2 win over derby rivals Canterbury United. Along with their thrilling 7-7 draw with Central Futsal, Southern topped the Series with seven points.

All eyes turn towards this weekend's Northern Series set for The Peak in Hamilton where the Futsal Navy Blues take on NFF Comets and BOP Surge on Saturday 7 November before squaring off with Waikato Rapids the next day.

The Futsal Navy Blues first competitive hit out is the Northern Series set for November 7-8.

Ends

Match Result
Friendly
Thursday 29 October 2020
NFF Comets 0
Auckland City FC 5 (Aalok PAUDEL, Todd BROADHURST, Jimmy BANKS, Hamish GREY, Jake BESENYI)

Auckland City FC - Futsal Navy Blues Squad
AC: Elias BILLEH, Mike ANTAMANO, Vaughan SOMERVILLE, Hamish GREY, Yousif Ali AL-KALISY, Marvin EAKINS, Aalok PAUDEL, Adam PAULSEN, Dylan MANICKUM, Jimmy BANKS, Josh MARGETTS, Myron MANICKUM, Steve ASHBY, Thomas PICKEN, Jake BESENYI, Matthew LIESHOUT, Connor McCONCHIE, Sean McINTEE, Todd BROADHURST.

Coach: Nic DOWNES.

Futsal Navy Blues Match Schedule

7 November - Comets v Auckland City FC 1.00pm
7 November - Auckland City FC v BOP Surge 7.00pm
8 November - Waikato Rapids v Auckland City FC 1.00pm
20 November - Capital v Auckland City FC 10.00am
20 November - Central v Auckland City FC 7.00pm
21 November - Auckland City FC v Southern 11.30am
21 November - Auckland City FC v Dragons 4.00pm

Competition Match Schedule Men's Futsal Super League

Southern Series - ASB Sports Centre, Wellington

Dragons v Capital 2-5
Central v Southern 7-7
Dragons v Central 3-6
Southern v Capital 5-2
Dragons v Southern 1-4
Capital v Central 2-2

Standings
Southern United 7pts
Central Futsal 5pts
Capital Futsal 4pts
Canterbury United 0

Northern Series - The Peak, Hamilton

7 November Waikato Rapids v BOP Surge 11.00am
7 November Comets v Auckland City FC 1.00pm
7 November Waikato Rapids v Comets 5.00pm
7 November Auckland City FC v BOP Surge 7.00pm
8 November BOP Surge v Comets 11.00am
8 November Waikato Rapids v Auckland City FC 1.00pm

National Series - Bruce Pulman Arena, Auckland

20 November - Capital v Auckland City FC 10.00am
20 November - Dragons v Comets 11.30am
20 November - Southern v Rapids 1.00pm
20 November - Central v Surge 2.30pm
20 November - Capital v Comets 4.00pm
20 November - Dragons v Rapids 5.30pm
20 November - Central v Auckland City FC 7.00pm
20 November - Southern v Surge 8.30pm

21 November - Comets v Central 10.00am
21 November - Auckland City FC v Southern 11.30am
21 November - BOP Surge v Capital 1.00pm
21 November - Rapids v Central 2.30pm
21 November - Auckland City FC v Dragons 4.00pm
21 November - Comets v Southern 5.30pm
21 November - Rapids v Capital 7.00pm
21 November - BOP Surge v Dragons 8.30pm

22 November - 1st v 4th 9.00am
22 November - 2nd v 3rd 11.00am
22 November - Winner A v Winner B 3.00pm