Takapuna Grammar claims regional futsal title

Indoor football code ‘futsal’ has made big gains at Takapuna Grammar School (TGS), less than a year after it was introduced as a sports option.

The school’s senior boys side won the Northern Region secondary school competition at the end of March, beating Rangitoto College 2-1 in a dramatic final.

Competitive futsal was introduced to TGS by social sciences teacher Elliott Jost in term four last year, but has grown quickly since then.

Player numbers have increased from 18 to 47.

Jost said he first sent out emails to gauge interest, then began a programme as a a casual way for football players to keep fit during the off-season.

Numbers grew as head of football Ryan Ward spread the word to more footballers across the school.

Jost, who has himself played the sport for seven years, hoped it would continue to grow at TGS.

Kallen Mutch, who scored the winning goal in the final against Rangitoto with just 15 seconds left on the clock, said the biggest difference between five-a-side futsal and its outdoor counterpart was the intensity.

“I feel like football is a lot more about using your head whereas futsal is more about your technical ability.”

Another player, Miller Perry, said defenders and attackers were more specialised roles in football. “Whereas in futsal you’re defending and attacking. You get up and down the court quite a bit.”

Kallen said he felt “a lot of relief” when his late effort went in against Rangitoto. “I was getting ready to kick myself if I missed it because I had like five opportunities earlier and missed all of them.”