Macedon kids Tarkyn Bishop and Edward Ferguson started playing futsal to keep active during the football off season – but they’re now national, and potentially international, champions.
The 10-year-old teammates have been selected for an Australian junior boys futsal squad bound for Hawaii in November.
Futsal is an indoor football game played with a smaller ball. It has five players a side.
The boys have both played for about three years. Tarkyn’s dad Simon, who helps out with coaching, said he has faith that the team will do well during the Futsal Australia international tour.
“They’ve been playing together in football for a few years, so they play well together,” Mr Bishop said, adding they need to raise more than $10,000 to get the boys to Hawaii.
An online crowdfunding campaign has been set up to help them. Team spokesman Allan Spencer-Stewart said there is growing interest as well as participation in the sport.
“It is a stunning achievement for Tarkyn and Ed,” Mr Spencer-Stewart said, adding that their inclusion is a testament to the growth of this thriving community sport in the Macedon Ranges.
“The boys were two of five young Macedon Ranges players selected to compete at the Australian Futsal Championships … five out of eight of the players in the Victorian under 10 side at the nationals come from the Macedon Ranges – a phenomenal effort for our region.”
Edward was the best under 10 goalkeeper in Australia at last year’s national championships.
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