Bolwarra Heights 11-year-old Austin Gogarty will be in Greece playing futsal next month, less than a year after taking up the sport.
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Gogarty will represent Northern NSW under 13s as the sole Australian futsal side on the three-week overseas tour.
His rise up the ranks has been quite quick; especially considering he only stumbled across futsal through a group of mates at Maitland Federation Centre.
“I started last year when I came in playing with some friends in the off-season for soccer,” Gogarty said.
“After a while I decided I wanted to play properly and not just kick the ball around.
“It’s been really fun and you are always moving.”
Gogarty has taken a liking to futsal and now some of the same mates he started with are wishing they were en route to Europe as well.
“I’m getting really excited about the tour,” Gogarty said.
“All of my friends want to come as well but they need to try out for the team as well.”
The tour, based mainly in Athens, includes a series of matches, training with top-line Greek futsal coaches and visits to sites such as the Acropolis.
The squad will also have the chance to see football action outside when Olympiakos host Italian giants Juventus.
Gogarty plays locally in Maitland with teams known as the All Stars and Foxes and after participating in the NNSW Premier League contested the national championships in Sydney in January.
He has also been involved in two NNSW academy sessions during school holidays.
Gogarty recently finished the outdoor season with the Bolwarra under 12s, who were beaten in the grand final on penalties.
He has played two seasons at the Bushrangers after two years previously at the Gresford Vacy Scorpions.
