AZKALROOS’ Green team forward Ace Garnica blasted the winning ‘golden goal’ into the nets in the final game against Nepal Stars to take the inaugural Futsal Sa Fiesta trophy at the Fairfield Showground on Monday, October 6, 2014.
The Azkalroos, a Filipino-Australian youth development soccer team, had forced extra time after an epic struggle and tying the score with Nepal, 5-5, in the third and final game.
Then along came Garnica with an ‘ace’ to seal victory for the pinozs.
The Futsa Sa Fiesta was part of the 2014 annual Fiesta Kultura, organised the Aszkalroos and the Philippine Australian Sports and Culture organisation with support from national football club Western Sydney Wanderers FC and sponsor MoneyGram.
Azkalroos’ chief Andrew Fletcher was all praise for the Greens, and observed that the standard of football was high..
The tournament format was a round robin under high-skill futsal rules featuring smaller fields and goals, with five players on the field for each team including the goalkeeper.
Azkalroos’ Green team won all their three games against Nepalese sides.
Shawn Banos won the Golden Boot award. The ‘Most Valuable Player awards went to the Azkalroos’ Tim Griffiths, Arlo Dimaculangan and Chris Urqueza, and to Nepal Stars’ Ankit Thapa.
Special guest of the tournament was soccer’s Western Sydney Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas, who presented the winning team’s trophy to goalkeeper Enzo Cheng.
“Congratulations to the Azkalroos for organising today’s event and to all the teams who played hard in hot conditions,” Tsatsimas said. “Days like today show the power of football to bring people together.”
Wanderers new board member Jefferson Cheng was also in attendance, keeping an eye out for talent in his role as the manager of the Azkal’s Under 21 team.
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PICTURE:
Above: Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas, left, presents winner’s trophy to Azkalroos captain and goalkeeper Enzo Cheng.
Right: Azkalroos defending.
