Futsalroos Head Coach Rob Varela today announced the fourteen players set to represent Australia at the forthcoming 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Varela’s squad – which features experienced Futsalroos including Greg Giovenali, Daniel Fogarty and Gavin O’Brien – will venture to Vietnam on October 16 and play preparatory matches against two top Vietnam Futsal League teams prior to the commencement of the AFF Futsal Championship on October 21.
At the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship the Futsalroos will compete in Group B of the competition alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Group A will feature Thailand, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia.
Varela’s squad will be gunning to finish in the top three at the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in order to secure a place at the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship, which will be held in Turkmenistan in February and March next year.
The 2020 AFC Futsal Championship doubles as the qualifying process for next year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be hosted by Lithuania.
“We are really excited to return to international competition,” Varela said. “We are under no illusions regarding how hard the assignment will be but we are looking forward to proving ourselves to be very competitive.”
“Our squad comprises of some familiar names like Greg Giovenali, Tobias Seeto, Daniel Fogarty and Jarrod Basger, as well as some new exciting young talent in Daniel Fornito, Carlos De Oliveira, Ahmed Sweedan and 16-year-old Ethan de Melo.
“I’m sure these players will do their best to make Australian futsal fans proud,” he said.
Futsalroos 14-Player Squad | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Name | Position |
Gavin O’BRIEN | Goalkeeper |
Adam COOPER | Flanker |
Jarrod BASGER | Flanker |
Greg GIOVENALI | Pivot |
Nathan NISKI | Pivot |
Wade GIOVENALI | Flanker |
Tobias SEETO | Pivot |
Daniel FORNITO | Flanker |
Grant LYNCH | Target |
Daniel FOGARTY | Flanker |
Carlos DE OLIVEIRA | Flanker |
Andrew HAIM | Goalkeeper |
Ahmed SWEEDAN | Flanker |
Ethan DE MELO | Target |
Futsalroos | Match Schedule | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship (Group B) | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam v Australia
Date: Monday, 21 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
Australia v Malaysia
Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
Indonesia v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Kick-off: TBC
