For the first time, Futsal SA have entered an Open Women’s team in the Football Federation Australia Futsal National Championships in Capital Football, ACT, from 13th to 18th January 2014. 

The week long tournament involves states entering teams in both Boys and Girls divisions from U12 to Open Age.

The Open Women will begin play on the Monday night against NSW Lightning. From there, they’ll take on ACT on the Tuesday, NSW Thunder on Wednesday and Victoria on Thursday.

The team consists of Leah Trebilcock (GK), Amelia Pacillo, Renae Pantelis, Jamilla Hull, Rhiannon Eglinton, Rachael Hayward, Bethany Koutsouridis, Susan Bassett, Shannon Adams, Manager - Gina Scalzi and player Coach, Sandra Scalzi. Sandra is a notable figure in women’s football. The former W league player is excited to be both coaching and playing in the Futsal tournament.

Staging the open women’s team will be a pivotal moment in developing female futsal in SA. However, it takes time, and the quality of opposition in the tournament will make it challenging.

This is a great experience for all teams to be playing with and against the best female futsal players in the country; no doubt every game will be entertaining.

Inspiring the younger players will be a great advantage of having an open women’s team play in the tournament. If women's futsal can grow at grassroots level it will make the girls national teams stronger in the long term, purely from the enthusiasm the tournament generates.

Current Adelaide University Premier League player Jamilla Hull has been playing futsal from the age of 10. In 2005 she was part of the first ever junior girls Futsal SA team. 

“Women’s futsal has taken off and is a lot more competitive now, representing SA in its first ever open women’s futsal team is a milestone in my life, and I’m so excited to see the impact that we will make on the national stage”.

The two other Girls teams (U14 and U16) both prove to be strong contenders in the tournament. Teams consist of:

U16 - Helena Ruggiero (GK), Giorgia Contos, Gaby Bentley, Ali Atkins, Sarah Chappel, Valeria Guajardo, Kelsey Zafiridis and Lani Cheetham. Coach: Tony Scalzi. Team Manager: Anna Contos.

U14 - Matilda Comley (GK), Chloe Brooks, Alexia Scalzi, Chelsie Dawber, Angelica McCarron, Grace Abbey, Eva Grasso, Nora Peat and Emily Hodgson. Coach: Peter Dawber. Team Manager: Tracie Dawber.

Futsal SA and Football Federation SA wishes luck to all of the 10 teams (the 3 girls and 7 boys) representing SA in the upcoming Futsal National Championships!