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FNQ futsal player to represent Australia on European tour by Gavin Broomhead 26 September 2015
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Far North Queensland junior futsal star will travel to Barcelona in November to represent Australia and take on Spain’s best representative teams. Jaylen Poi Poi, 12, has been picked in the national side after impressing at the Australian futsal championships earlier this year. The St. Augustine’s student will now travel to Europe with the best young players in the country to play Catalonia’s finest young futsal talent. The tour will also provide Jaylen the opportunity to see the legendary Barcelona football team play at their Camp Nou home, watching the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in the flesh. Redlynch Central Sports Stadium General Manager Tony Cifuentes said Jaylen fully deserved his selection, and was another example of the pathways created for budding young futsal stars in the region. “We believe that there are lots of opportunities for the most talented kids in Far North Queensland to be recognised at all representative levels,” he said. “Our aim is to create as many pathways as possible for these kids
Jaylen Poi Poi’s father is from Bamaga, and his mum is from the Torres Strait. Image: supplied
to follow their dreams, supporting the hard work they put in. “We were thrilled when Jaylen was selected to play for Australia, and I know he’ll have a great experience over there in Spain.” While on tour, the Australian Under 12s team will also receive training from Spanish coaches and Australian coaches to help improve their skills, game play, team work
and futsal knowledge. Outside of very competitive games and extensive training, tour members will get to experience events such as attending professional futsal and football matches, such as the visit to FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium. Mr Cifuentes said Jaylen started playing futsal from a young age at Redlynch Central Sports Stadium.
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