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First Female Australian Futsal Champions for Victoria! For the first time in the history of Victorian Futsal, we now have a Womens Championship Title to savour. Gold Gold Gold!
Friday the 13th January 2012 was a very special day for the Victorian U14 Girls Team and one that they will never forget in the years ahead as they made history for Victoria in the FFA National Futsal Championships.
Striving to enhance their reputation both in Victoria and nationally we have followed the trials and tribulations of these girls over the last week culminating in this final episode of an amazing story. Who said women's sport was boring - this has been an amazing week with more ups and downs than the Mad Mouse at Luna Park.
The morning of a grand final in any sport harbours excitement, intrepidation and anxiety amongst both the players, the coaches and the support team. Waking at 6am the girls needed sustenance to nurture their bodies for the main event and mentally prepare for battle with NSW. For so many years NSW has dominated this sport in all age groups and their team names - "Thunder" and "Lightning" depict the aura they create for opposing state teams.
Staying at the AIS, the girls have learnt that elite athletes strive to give themselves an opportunity. An opportunity for a seat at the table to compete, an opportunity for a chance to win. An opportunity to win a gold medal and carry the title - Australian Champions. Then there are the opportunities that flow from holding that title for a full year and the final opportunity to defend it should you be given the chance to do so.
Winning isn't everything and the FFA and FFV have broadcast "Fair Play" and "Respect" as crucial messages underpinning this tournament for all participants to abide by. The way you win is more important than the winning itself and the Victorian U14 Girls team approached the game with a confidence, calmness and focus well beyond their years. They were professional in their approach and in the their style of play for the entire tournament and as parents watching, we could all hold our heads high knowing they conducted themselves with such poise and grace.
Watching them warmup for the grand final in the way they did, had an immediate impact on the opposition, the crowd and the officials. They stated with their actions they had arrived and were here to complete a journey - one that had taken several of them many years of hard work, commitment, dedication and self sacrifices.
With the prematch rigours behind them, coach Perich kicked off proceedings with Sarcevic in goal and Stockdale, Heckenberg, Kennedy and Gudelj on-field to deliver the opening onslaught. The strategy of allowing the girls to play their own aggressive, offensive game soon yielded results for Perich with Heckenberg side stepping the opposition and slotting the first major with that violent raking left foot. One nil.
With their tails up, the girls applied significant pressure up forward to force mistakes and create opportunities to score. Gudelj was troubling the opposition with her "in your face" tackles and Heckenberg made it look like one of Jaro's Saturday afternoon training sessions, sauntering past opposition players at will.
NSW had a "six foot" secret weapon that had contributed to several of their wins in the leadup to the Grand Final. Fighting fire with fire, Perich tactically matched up Stockdale who for the first time was dwarfed by a player - what emerged was a far more agile, skillful and passionate display of talent from Stockdale that nullified her opponent from the game. Exploiting the weakness of her opponent's speed, Stockdale broke free and created space to take a right foot blinder that passed the outstretched hands of the 'keeper and lifted the Victorian fan contingent off their seats. Two nil, and all within the first five minutes of the game.
What a start!
Kennedy and Sarcevic continued to hold the defense intact as the Victorians applied more pressure up front. Both of these girls need to run around in the shower to get wet but what they lack in physical presence is more than made up for in skill, heart and determination. Sarcevic was named MVP of the finals for her work - constantly throwing her petite frame across the floor and combined with Kennedy's experience, poise and calm nature under pressure, NSW were unable to penetrate the VIC defense.
Perish took time to introduce and rotate players in the latter part of the first half, drawing on the experience of Vakalopoulos and the freshness of first timers Go, Silver, Bartyl and Bellesis to ensure we carried a 2-0 lead into the break.
The second half began the way the first half started with the same starting five and the same aggressive attitude; the same unrelenting pressure and the same result on the scoreboard. Heckenberg looked relaxed with so much time to move and pass, she again slotted goal number two past the 'keeper and into the net. 3-0.
Playing on the AIS main court suited the VICs far better than the opposition. The bigger space and experience gleaned from the MFL Open Women's competition really became evident for all to see. Combined with the fitness and speed of the VICs, it looked like they had an unassailable lead.
Drama set in when NSW ran untagged into the goal and scored. 3-1. "What happened?" were the crys from the stands.
Utilising the tactic of the goalkeeper throwing the ball long from defense and stacking the semi circle with players hoping for a deflection into goal yielded a second to NSW and suddenly the tide had turned. 3-2.
Needing a goal to steady the ship and bury the NSW hopes, Gudelj toe poked past the 'keeper to the roar of the Victorian crowd for a 4 to 2 lead that ended the comeback in it's tracks.
The final whistle brought many tears and joy to the faces of the girls, the coach, support staff and parents watching. This was a tournament not just based on the final game - it was a culmination of talented girls with varying degrees of experience, passion and self belief who all contributed to the end result.
The level-headedness of Sarcevic (Pirates) combined with the experience of Kennedy, Stockdale, Vakalopoulos, Gudelj and Heckenberg (all EFA Eagles) was invaluable to Perich. Combining this with the first time players of Go (Cobras) and Silver, Bartyl and Bellesis (all EFA Eagles) during the tournament allowed the team's depth and talent to win the Championship.
Congratulations to every member of the VIC U14 Girls for their contribution in winning the gold medal. Congratulations to the coach John Perich for his long hours of planning, guidance and mentoring of the girls along with team manager Liza Stevens for her "mothering" in taking care of 14 year old girls.
Finally to the support staff, physios and parents for making this tournament such a great success. A special thanks must go to a Mr Jaroslav Dedic - who when approach two years ago had the vision and passion to impart a game style that the girls would adopt and eventually win the first women's National Championship for Victoria.
This is a story that in the light of what happened to Sheniz Erkan this week puts the value of life at the forefront of everyone's mind. Our daughters are precious to us all and being involved in what they do, knowing who they interact with, how they are responding and what they are feeling is something we should never lose sight of. Hug them, listen to them and love them everyday you can.
Stay tuned to Stocky's Scribbles in April 2012 when 7 of the Girls U14 championship Futsal team travel to Dallas USA to represent The Brighton Jets competing against the best U15 Girls teams from around the world.
Signing off from Canberra National Futsal Championships,
Stocky
Pictures from the Grand Final
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