Sport
14 April, 2023
Our futsal star to play for Australia
A rising star on the region’s soccer and futsal scene has been chosen to represent Australia in Spain later this year.
Pittsworth’s Hayden Carr will play in an Australian side to compete in the V-Sport Cup in Costa Brava from June 30 to July 4.
At 15, Hayden is the youngest player in the nine-member Under 19 squad.
Futsal is commonly cited as the fastest growing sport on the planet right now, a surge no doubt aided by the fact that many a football star - including the greats such as Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - started out playing futsal.
“It’s a very intense game,“ says Ryan Clerihew, who is coordinator of the Under 19 side heading to Spain.
“It is played in 170 countries with 30 million participants around the world. “
Futsal is played on a smaller court than a football field and is usually played indoors.
The team Hayden of which is part comprises south west Queensland players chosen for their talents and attitude to each other and their team mates.
Hayden, who also plays soccer for West Toowoomba, found futsal through the competition run in Pittsworth by the South West Queensland Highlanders Football Academy which strives to develop the next generation of great futsal players.
Mr Clerihew said the academy had more than 600 players registered and 20 teams played in national school competitions last year with 24 players selected for Australian teams to tour internationally.
Over the weekend Hayden competed in the a state competition.
