AFF Futsal representative Emily Gillion is one of a number of players who have seen the Women’s Futsal pathway come to fruition.
The 16-year old Macleans College student took up the five-aside game less than a year ago, and already finds herself coming up against the best female talent the country has to offer.
Gillion has earned selection into the Nic Downes-coached Auckland National Women’s Futsal League side and AFF Futsal Development Officer Marvin Eakins says the selection has come off the back of strong performances in the Auckland Women’s Futsal League.
“Emily was noticed in the Women’s Futsal League we ran after putting in consistently strong performances,” says Eakins.
“From here, she was selected into the wider training squad for the AFF National Women’s Futsal League squad. This squad was then narrowed down to 14 players of which she was selected as a flanker due to her ability to take players on and a knack for scoring goals.”
While it is the first time Gillion has played futsal at this level, she is no stranger to the game having represented AFF Futsal in 2016 at the NZF National Youth Futsal Championships where she turned out for the U19s.
While Gillion believes the experience of that campaign will help her, she is fully aware of the task ahead.
“The U19s was an exciting experience as it was my first time playing futsal competitively. The experience at the upcoming National Women’s League will be very similar but much more competitive,” says Gillion.
Another exciting experience Gillion, who also plays for Eastern Suburbs AFC, hopes to be a part of is the New Zealand U-18 Futsal side to compete in the 2018 OFC Futsal Championships.
“I want to try and take this tournament as another learning experience and also try to put my best foot forward for selection into the New Zealand U-18s.”
The National Women’s Futsal League takes place from February 24-26 in Wellington, with AFF Futsal being drawn with Mainland, Central Futsal Hawkes Bay and Northern in pool B.
- For further information on Women’s Futsal in the Auckland region contact Marvin Eakins on 021-933 953.
