Stocky's Scribbles: Putting futsal into perspective

Today life and futsal were put into perspective for our girls; we had news last night here in Canberra that one of our Victorian Champions League players from the Western Wolves Club, Sheniz Erkan, had tragically died.

This certainly impacted the girls and the atmosphere in the team was very sombre before the match; the leadership group had all Victorians wearing black armbands and the entire stadium stood silent to pay due respects for the young lady and her family. You could hear a pin drop as both teams lined the centre court with head bowed to reflect on life and that of Sheniz.

Rest in Peace.

Events of this nature affect people in different ways and the young Victorian girls were shocked by the news.

Victoria 5 (Alicia Vakapoulos x2, Dani Gudelj x2, Emma Heckenberg) def. Queensland 2

With the minutes silence complete, the game was soon underway and the nervousness of the Vics was evident for all to see. With starting goalkeeper Elizabeth Sarcevic back in the saddle and Maddie Stockdale, Lucy Kennedy, Alicia Vakapoulos and Amy Silver starting proceedings the girls began the work of ensuring a finals berth. The loss against NSW Thunder was fresh in their minds and in futsal one second seems an eternity in which anything can happen.

Sure enough, the Queenslanders starting brightly and struck first through some nice work in the offensive half. The Vics needed to lift up the tempo and with several efforts on goal saved by the QLD defence it was only a matter of time for the equaliser to come.

The girls settled down half way through the first half and began to gain back the composure that they are known for despite the opposition being very physical on the ball. A free kick was awarded to the Vics and Dani Gudelj was fresh from the bench as she smashed the penalty into the top right hand corner to lift the team and square the tally.

With Head Coach John Perich working on his substitutions and game structure, he had several first timers mixed with the experienced personnel that provided the blend of physical and skilful play. Soon after the initial goal, current Melbourne Futsal League Best and Fairest for the Open Women, Gudelj streamed up the left wing and with a toe poke that was blindingly fast, smashed the back of the net to take Victoria into half time up by a goal.

Perich looked to start the second half with the experience of Stockdale, Kennedy, Gudelj and Heckenberg. He augmented this with the strength and skill of Vakapoulos and Heckenberg to drive home the ascendancy. Sienna Go was again instrumental in defence winning the ball off the taller opposition players time and again and Katrina Bellesis was using her strength to win the ball in tough circumstances - her hard work yielded a red card to an opposition player in the second half.

Silver teamed up with Vakapoulos to score the goal of the tournament - a short sharp pass to the semicircle that saw Vakapoulos at full stretch to guide the ball with her left foot past the keeper and into the back of the net.

Today the girls played for each other – a real team effort and one that showed character in the face of a testing situation. There is still much more to do; more to learn, more to achieve and more enjoyment to be had. The Game of Futsal was the winner here today and the girls stood proud with their black armbands intact for a friend of the game they all love.

Craig Stockdale reporting from Canberra National Futsal Championships 2012 for The Football Sack.

If you or ANYONE you know is experiencing personal problems you can call Lifeline on 131 114; Victorian Statewide Suicide Helpline on 1300 651 251; or for more information go to www.beyondblue.org.au. If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, seek immediate help from a GP or a counsellor. Help and advice is also available on 1800 18SANE (7263) and from www.sane.org

Read all of Stocky's futsal reports by clicking here.