Futsal Whites head coach Marvin Eakins says the overseas experience of some of his squad will add creativity as they prepare for October’s OFC Futsal Nations Cup with a two-match series in China.
New Zealand have been training at Papakura’s Bruce Pulman Arena ahead of their games in China on Friday September 15 and Sunday September 17.
Main photo: Marvin Eakins works with members of his national squad.
“China’s a good match-up for us. They’re quite technical players, and it’ll be something similar that we’ll kind of come across in the World Cup qualifiers,” Eakins told NZ Football’s YouTube channel.
“We obviously want to use these games to kind of build some chemistry within the team, get ourselves back playing at a high level and seeing how we’ve gone with implementing what we’ve kind of learned, and actually doing it against some good opposition.”
After the games in China, New Zealand will compete in the OFC Futsal Nations Cup which will decide who will represent Oceania at the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
Watch Marvin Eakins interview
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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