Futsal Whites head coach Marvin Eakins has named a 14-player squad to meet China in two international matches in mid-September.
The games in China will be the first played by the Futsal Whites since the team won the OFC Futsal Nations Cup in Fiji last September.
Main photo: Futsal Whites coach Marvin Eakins … preparing for October’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
READ MORE: Futsal Whites take OFC Futsal Cup with 6-2 win against Solomon Islands >>>>
Eakins will use the games in China to prepare for October’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup in which New Zealand be chasing a place at next year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
“Our goal as a group is to qualify for New Zealand’s first-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup, and the chance to do that on home soil in front of a home crowd is an incredible opportunity,” Eakins said.
“These matches against China are a big first step in that process, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Futsal Whites
Mike Antamanov (Auckland City)
Stephen Ashby-Peckham (Auckland City)
Jordi Ditfort (Bloomsbury Futsal)
Hamish Grey (Unattached)
Oban Hawkins (Southern United)
Dylan Manickum (Auckland City)
Ethan Martin (Waikato Rapids)
Adam Paulsen (Auckland City)
Thomas Picken (Auckland City)
Casey Sharplin (Waikato Rapids)
Patrick Steele (Waikato Rapids)
Art Twigg (Auckland City)
Logan Wisnewski (Bloomsbury Futsal)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Friday September 15, 2023
China v New Zealand (10.30pm NZT)
Game to be played on Sunday September 17, 2023
China v New Zealand (10.30pm NZT)
OFC Futsal Nations Cup
READ MORE: New Zealand learn group opponents for October’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup >>>>
New Zealand fixtures
Game to be played on Sunday October 1, 2023
New Zealand v Vanuatu
Bruce Pulman Arena, Papakura, 4pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Monday October 2, 2023
New Zealand v Fiji
Bruce Pulman Arena, Papakura, 7pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday October 4, 2023
New Zealand v Tonga
Bruce Pulman Arena, Papakura, 4pm (NZT)
Semi-finals will take place on Thursday October 5 and the finals on Saturday October 7.
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