The best female futsal players in the country will come together for three days from tomorrow when the Women’s Futsal SuperLeague is held at the ASB Sports Centre in Wellington.

Check out what’s in store and the prospects of each team with the official preview below.

For the schedule, results and other information please click here

The live streaming will be available by clicking here

Northern Lights

Position last season: Sixth
Coach: Joanne Lammoza
Futsal Ferns: None
Key player: Bernadette Goulding
Young player to watch: Hannah Reddy

Squad: Corina Brown, Kate Carlton, Charlise Casas-Clarke, Shayden Cathro, Aimee Cogger, Bernadette Goulding, Hannah Milligan, Laura Nottle, Ashleigh Patton, Catherine Pretty, Hannah Reddy, Kate Seatter, Emma Turnbull, Abbey Venmore

Prospects: Joanne Lammoza has recently attended the OFC/NZF Futsal C Licence which will no doubt give her a great platform to apply her extensive knowledge to coaching this talented group of players. Experienced futsal players Bernadette Goulding, Laura Nottle, Catherine Pretty and Hannah Reddy are all likely to contribute greatly if the Northern Lights are to have any success. Reddy in particular will be looking to showcase her talents after a successful Youth Futsal Championships in 2018.

Auckland

Position last season: Champions
Coach: Nic Downes
Futsal Ferns: Shivanthi Anthony, Danielle Bradley, Maxine Cooper, Tessa Leong, Dayna Manak, Jess Verdon, Rivalina Fuimaono
Key player: Maxine Cooper
Young player to watch: Jenna Dodd

Squad: Shivanthi Anthony, Danielle Bradley, Maxine Cooper, Maisy Dewell, Jenna Dodd, Rivalina Fuimaono, Emily Gillion, Tessa Leong, Dayna Manak, Milly McWhirter, Abigail Murphy, Caitlin Pritchard, Jess Verdon, Erinna Wong

Prospects: Auckland will be looking for nothing less than a repeat of their previous title-winning success. With seven Futsal Ferns in their ranks – by far the most out of all the teams – and a strong base of talented younger players coming through, it’s hard to look past the reigning champions as favourites to lift the trophy. They will be well prepared as Nic Downes has created arguably one of the most impressive training programmes with the group readying themselves for the past four months.

WaiBOP

Position last season: Runners-up
Coach: Brayden Lissington
Futsal Ferns: Leah Gubb
Key player: Leah Gubb
Young player to watch: Grace Wisnewski

Squad: Emma Cawte, Grace Cox, Sophie Daly, Talia Entwisle, Leah Gubb, Eileish Hayes, Chloe Henderson, Rachel Major, Lilly Muspratt, Michelle Windsor, Grace Wisnewski

Prospects: Any team that possesses players with the ability of Leah Gubb and Grace Wisnewski will pose a threat to all comers in the SuperLeague. Add in the hard work the team has been doing in preparation for this competition and WaiBOP will be a force to be reckoned with. Coach Brayden Lissington has played for the Futsal Whites so has international experience to pass on.

Central

Position last season: Fourth
Coach: Mark Cozens
Futsal Ferns: Mikaela Boxall, Torijan Lyne-Lewis
Key player: Torijan Lynn-Lewis
Young player to watch: Casey Ralph

Squad: Aimee Atkins, Jenna Barry, Mackenzie Barry, Mikaela Boxall, Sophie Crewe, Aoife Gallagher-Forbes, Milla Green, Sarah Gurnick, Charlotte Lancaster, Torijan Lyne-Lewis, Maggie Pedersen, Sam Perko, Casey Ralph, Tyler Wood

Prospects: Central has traditionally performed well in this competition having taken out the title in 2016. This year will be a good test to see if they can continue to compete at the top end of the table. A trio of influential players in Mikaela Boxall, Torijan Lyne-Lewis and Casey Ralph will be key to their ability to challenge for the title.

Capital

Position last season: Fifth
Coach: Callum Holmes
Futsal Ferns: Sarah Alder, Francesca Grange
Key player: Sarah Alder
Young player to watch: Danielle Ohlsson

Squad: Sarah Alder, Katie Barrott, Libby Boobyer, Francesca Grange, Denise Gumabay, Jemma Hall, Emma Main, Courtney Norman, Danielle Ohlsson, Ana Olssen, Grace Surridge, Danielle Turton, Megan Willis, Molly Woodhead

Prospects: Capital will certainly be looking to show their home-court dominance after a disappointing fifth-place finish last year. The quality in their squad certainly suggests they can do just that with Futsal Ferns Sarah Alder and Francesca Grange the sort of players any coach in the SuperLeague would be delighted to have. Emma Main, Katie Barrott and Molly Woodhead have all also proven their ability in this competition over the past few years and the hosts will be hugely motivated to bring the title back to the capital.

Canterbury United Pride

Position last season: Third
Coach: Ronan Naicker
Futsal Ferns: Rebecca Lake, Britney-Lee Nicholson, Hannah Hegarty, Sophie Williams
Key player: Britney-Lee Nicholson
Young player to watch: Macey Fraser

Squad: Maggie Anderson, Mackenzie Falco, Lily Fisher, Macey Fraser, Hannah Hegarty, Tahlia Herman-Watt, Elstob Katie, Rebecca Lake, Jennifer Merkin, Britney-Lee Nicholson, Serena Patel, Belinda van Noorden, Alyssa Whinham, Sophie Williams

Prospects: Ronan Naicker and his side will be determined to earn a berth in the final after falling just short last year. Any team featuring four Futsal Ferns will be competitive when it comes to the pressure moments. Creative talents such as Britney-Lee Nicholson, Serena Patel and Macey Fraser will look to set the competition alight with their one-v-one ability and goal-scoring threat.

Article added: Thursday 14 February 2019