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.

All the action from the Women’s Futsal SuperLeague will be available to watch online via live streaming.

For the live streaming, schedule, results and other information please click here

Northern Lights

Position last season: Third
Coach: Sam Coyle
Futsal Ferns: None
Key player: Abbey Venmore
Young player to watch: Hannah Reddy

Squad: Rebecca Aitken, Jayna Bennett, Michaela Buckley, Shayden Cathro, Breeze Durham, Tyde Ivatt, Jasmin Krishnan, Maclani Michael, Hannah Milligan, Jade Morrissey, Ashleigh Patton, Hannah Reddy, Abbey Venmore

Prospects: Northern finished as best of the rest last time around, missing out on a place in the final but securing third. That gives them a solid foundation to build on and their preparation has been strong, including a narrow 2-1 loss to Auckland. The squad has a fresh look to it with several young players set to debut while there is also a new figure in charge, Sam Coyle taking the senior team for the first time as a reward for his previous efforts in the Northern youth programme. Abbey Venmore has come through that youth pathway and her understanding of the game is at a high level so is capable of making an impact while Hannah Reddy has plenty of experience for a young player, having already starred at senior level for Northern and on the youth international stage. Her threat in the attacking third will prove vital if Northern are to break into the top two.

Auckland

Position last season: Fifth
Coach: Nic Downes
Futsal Ferns: Shivanthi Anthony, Danielle Bradley, Maxine Cooper, Tessa Leong, Jess Verdon, Hannah Kraakman
Key player: Shivanthi Anthony
Young player to watch: Emily Gillion

Squad: Shivanthi Anthony, Alosi Bloomfield, Danielle Bradley, Corina Brown, Kate Carlton, Maxine Cooper, Jenna Dodd, Emily Gillion, Hannah Kraakman, Tessa Leong, Emma Pijnenburg, Caitlin Pritchard, Jess Verdon, Erinna Wong

Prospects: Auckland possess the most star-studded squad in the competition so last year’s fifth-place finish was a huge disappointment, particularly as they went in as defending champions. The painful memories of that campaign will no doubt spur them on to produce the goods this time and there is no reason why they can’t return to top form as coach Nic Downes has a host of talent to call on. There are Futsal Ferns everywhere you look on the court but Shivanthi Anthony – the New Zealand Football Women’s Futsal Player of the Year in 2019 – will again be a vital cog in the Auckland machine while the long-awaited return of Hannah Kraakman after a year off with injury is a massive boost. The creativity of Kraakman will be key if Auckland are to repeat their title-winning exploits of 2018.

WaiBOP

Position last season: Sixth
Coach: Alex Walters
Futsal Ferns: None
Key player: Lilly Muspratt
Young player to watch: Olivia Hooper

Squad: Jordana Bremner, Talia Entwisle, Rylee Godbold, Olivia Hooper, Rachel Major, Cayin Mitchell, Adi-grace Mooar, Lilly Muspratt, Kaylee Oosthuysen, Emma Sizer, Jessica Sizer, Isabella Wilton

Prospects: WaiBOP pose somewhat of an unknown threat this year as many members of the squad are set to take their first steps at this level. The only way is up though as they finished bottom last year and the aim of coach Alex Walters is to earn a top-four berth this time. He has been pleased with the team’s preparation and the new players are reportedly excited to test themselves against the best futsal talent in the country. WaiBOP do possess some quality of their own though with Walters looking to captain Lilly Muspratt to take control of games. The excitement is likely to be provided by Olivia Hooper, whose fast feet have the potential to do some damage to opposition defences. If WaiBOP can haul themselves even one spot up the ladder then that will be a sign of progress.

Central

Position last season: Fourth
Coach: Nick Chong
Futsal Ferns: Mikaela Boxall
Key player: Mikaela Boxall
Young player to watch: Milla Green

Squad: Eve Barry, Jenna Barry, Mackenzie Barry, Mikaela Boxall, Jamie Evans, Milla Green, Charlotte Lancaster, Jessica Mason, Melissa McKenna, Jana Niedermayr, Laura Nottle, Nicole Robertson, Amelia Simmers

Prospects: Central are another side under new coaching stewardship with Nick Chong taking charge for the first time and looking to put his stamp on the competition. He has a promising blend of youth and experience to work with and there is a sound base to launch from after a top-four placing last time. The multi-talented Mikaela Boxall will again be the player expected to drive Central’s campaign and her versatility gives options to Chong. A National Women’s League outfield player in football, Boxall plays as a goalkeeper in futsal but her skills with the ball at her feet mean she can be used from that position as a fifth player, as well as bringing a clear understanding of the game and strong leadership. The energy will likely be provided by dynamic young flanker Milla Green, who has come through the youth ranks and has a bright future.

Capital

Position last season: Runners-up
Coach: Shingo Ina
Futsal Ferns: Sarah Alder, Francesca Grange
Key player: Francesca Grange
Young player to watch: Danielle Ohlsson

Squad: Sarah Alder, Nicole Baird, Katie Barrott, Libby Boobyer, Jemma Catherwood, Aoife Gallagher-Forbes, Francesca Grange, Emma Main, Danielle Ohlsson, Courtney Stone, Samantha Whyte, Rosie Wild, Megan Willis, Molly Woodhead

Prospects: With home advantage and no shortage of talent, Capital are certainly capable of providing a title threat and will be determined to go one better this time after ending up on the wrong end of the final last year. That showing was an improvement on previous campaigns and came on the back of several years of steady progress. The obvious goal now is to go one better and finally lift the trophy – a feat that has never been achieved by a side from the Capital before. The Futsal Ferns duo of Sarah Alder and Francesca Grange will be key and the latter will likely be ear-marked for special attention from opposition defences after picking up both the golden boot and MVP at the Tertiary Championships in 2019. The youthful spark will come from 18-year-old Danielle Ohlsson, who is fast and dangerous in front of goal.

Canterbury United Pride

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

Squad: Mackenzie Falco, Alyssa Whinham, Rebecca Lake, Jennifer Merkin, Sophie Williams, Lily Fisher, Macey Fraser, Serena Patel, Tahlia Herman-Watt, Britney-Lee Nicholson, Madison Silcock, Frankie Morrow, Nicola Dominikovich, Hannah Hegarty

Prospects: Along with Auckland and Capital, Canterbury form part of a triumvirate of sides most expected to fight it out for the silverware. The Pride will go in as the team to beat for the first time ever though after breaking their title duck last year. The poor run of Auckland opened the door for the likes of Canterbury to take advantage and coach Ronan Naicker is expecting all teams to be stronger this year, meaning the Pride will have a real challenge on their hands to hold on to the trophy. They would make history if they can do so as no team has ever successfully defended the title. Key figures in that quest will be the Pride’s batch of Futsal Ferns, particularly the technically gifted pair of Macey Fraser and Britney-Lee Nicholson. At just 16, Alyssa Whinham will be one to watch after coming through the youth programme and also playing football at senior level.

Article added: Thursday 13 February 2020