Central Football are delighted to announce that they have formally agreed to an arrangement that will see Hawkes Bay Futsal manage the Central Football Men’s Futsal team in 2023. This agreement will see HB Futsal take full operational control over the team that will participate in the men’s NZ Football Super League Futsal competition in early 2023.  

Central Football Community Development Manager, Leon Birnie, said, “HB Futsal have been a massive contributor to the game both in Hawkes Bay and across the Federation. They have demonstrated a real desire to want to be involved in national competitions and have been very active in running development programmes for players and coaches. Central Football are committed to looking at how we deliver all our programmes and with a real focus on ensuring that we provide the best environment and experience for those involved and so teaming up with HB Futsal aligns really well with this.” 

HB Futsal Programme Director, Shelley Bowie echoed Birnie’s comments and said, “HB Futsal are really looking forward to the challenge of running a men’s Super League team. We are a group of volunteers and are all very passionate about Futsal and the opportunities it can provide. We are excited about the talent coming through the Federation Youth programmes and will be looking to give a number of youth players the opportunity to experience Super League Futsal. We are already well advanced in our planning and will look to get a competitive team together that fully supports Central Football’s view around creating a top environment and experience for those involved.”

Birnie went on to add that there would be a full review of the program and HB Futsal’s continued involvement after the 2023 programme completion. He said that the Federation would continue to provide support, where needed, to HB Futsal for the men’s side but that the women’s team would continue to be managed by the Federation. The Central Football Super League women’s team, participating in the new extended Super League format for the first time since 2019 due to COVID-19 disruptions, would be coached by Federation Development Officer Aleesha Heywood in 2023.

HB Futsal will be making announcements around player trials, a pre-Super League program and the appointment of coaching and support staff in the coming weeks via their Facebook, Instagram and website www.hbfutsal.co.nz 

Article added: Friday 25 November 2022