The Football South Federation Boys U19 futsal team, comprising local boys Toa Roode, Levi Fletcher and Lukas Schafer, finished eighth at the NZ 2021 Youth Futsal Championships held in Wellington between July 17-19.

The U19 Football South team was in a pool with tournament favourites NRF Auckland City, along with Bay of Plenty and Capital Futsal from Wellington.

The boys’ first game on Saturday (July 17) was against NRF Auckland City, going down 6-1. That evening they played Bay of Plenty and put in an improved showing, losing by just one point 5-4.

They played their final pool game on Sunday morning against Capital Futsal, going down in a tightly fought match 3-1.

The Southern boys’ next game was against Pool A third place team Waikato in a quarter

final, with the winner progressing to challenge for the Championship title. They put up a good fight but Waikato were too strong and won 7-2.

Next they played Northern Comets in the semi final of the bottom four, going down 5-1.

On Monday (July 19) the boys played for seventh and eighth position against NRF Auckland going down 4-1 in an exciting match.

The boys put in a great effort, especially given the lack of match practise for the team prior to the tournament.

The tournament was won by Capital Futsal with a 3-2 win over Canterbury United Dragons in the grand final.

PHOTO: Wanaka Football World