New Zealand’s best university futsal players go into action this week at the world university championships in Portugal.
Men’s and women’s teams representing New Zealand include a number of capped Futsal Ferns and Futsal Whites.
The 2022 FISU World University Championships are taking place between July 18-24, 2022, in Braga and Guimarães, Portugal.
It’s the first time New Zealand sides will have appeared at the championships since 2018 when they were held in Kazakhstan.
Women’s draw
New Zealand are in a group of three teams, with Poland and Israel.
All dates/times are NZT
Wednesday July 20 (5am): Poland v New Zealand
Thursday July 21 (5am): Israel v New Zealand
Friday July 22 (TBA): Knockout stages begin
Men’s draw
New Zealand are in a group of four teams, with Israel, Argentina and Portugal.
All dates/times are NZT
Tuesday July 19 (2am): Israel v New Zealand
Wednesday July 20 (2am): Argentina v New Zealand
Thursday July 21 (5am): Portugal v New Zealand
Opening ceremony
The tournament held an opening ceremony which included all participating teams in a street parade. Images courtesy of FISU Facebook page.
Click on the images to open to full size
The New Zealand squads
Head coaches Nic Downes (women) and Marvin Eakins (men) say the tournaments are excellent opportunities for players to play their way into future national squads.
Women’s squad
Mackenzie Falco; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Hannah Milligan; AUT; NRF
Sophie Williams*; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Ella James*; University of Auckland; NRF
Rebecca Lake; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Emily Gillion; Massey University; NRF
Lilly Muspratt; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Jennifer Merkin; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Samantha Whyte; University of Canterbury; Capital
Frankie Morrow; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Alosi Bloomfield; University of Auckland; NRF
Ellena Firth; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Eve Barry; Victoria University of Wellington; Central
Britney-Lee Nicholson*; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Men’s squad
Patrick Steele; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Sean Beresford; Victoria University of Wellington; Capital
Logan Wisnewski*; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Hamish Grey; Massey University; NRF
Ethan Martin; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Oban Hawkins*; Otago University; Football South
Jordi Ditfort*; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Hemi Innes; University of Canterbury; Mainland
Tyler Ericksen; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Thomas Picken; University of Auckland; NRF
Casey Sharplin; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Aidan Robson; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Rahan Ali; Open Polytechnic; Football South
Kyle Wisnewski; University of Waikato; WaiBoP
Non-travelling reserves
Chris Preece
Connor McConchie
Mazen Rabih
Davis Vhavha
* Indicates capped Futsal Fern or Futsal White
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