Futsalroos squad for 2019 AFF Futsal Championship finalised

Futsalroos Head Coach Rob Varela today announced the fourteen players set to represent Australia at the forthcoming 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Varela’s squad – which features experienced Futsalroos including Greg Giovenali, Daniel Fogarty and Gavin O’Brien – will venture to Vietnam on October 16 and play preparatory matches against two top Vietnam Futsal League teams prior to the commencement of the AFF Futsal Championship on October 21.

At the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship the Futsalroos will compete in Group B of the competition alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Group A will feature Thailand, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia.

Varela’s squad will be gunning to finish in the top three at the 2019 AFF Futsal Championship in order to secure a place at the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship, which will be held in Turkmenistan in February and March next year.

The 2020 AFC Futsal Championship doubles as the qualifying process for next year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be hosted by Lithuania.

“We are really excited to return to international competition,” Varela said. “We are under no illusions regarding how hard the assignment will be but we are looking forward to proving ourselves to be very competitive.”

“Our squad comprises of some familiar names like Greg Giovenali, Tobias Seeto, Daniel Fogarty and Jarrod Basger, as well as some new exciting young talent in Daniel Fornito, Carlos De Oliveira, Ahmed Sweedan and 16-year-old Ethan de Melo.

“I’m sure these players will do their best to make Australian futsal fans proud,” he said.

Futsalroos 14-Player Squad | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Name

Position

Gavin O’BRIEN

Goalkeeper

Adam COOPER

Flanker

Jarrod BASGER

Flanker

Greg GIOVENALI

Pivot

Nathan NISKI

Pivot

Wade GIOVENALI

Flanker

Tobias SEETO

Pivot

Daniel FORNITO

Flanker

Grant LYNCH

Target

Daniel FOGARTY

Flanker

Carlos DE OLIVEIRA

Flanker

Andrew HAIM

Goalkeeper

Ahmed SWEEDAN

Flanker

Ethan DE MELO

Target

Futsalroos | Match Schedule | 2019 AFF Futsal Championship (Group B) | October 21-27 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam v Australia

Date: Monday, 21 October 2019

Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Kick-off: TBC

Australia v Malaysia

Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Kick-off: TBC

Indonesia v Australia

Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Venue: Phu Tho Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Kick-off: TBC

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