Metropolitan FC started the season as the laughing stock of Series Futsal Victoria – poor performances, little commitment and a number of humiliating defeats.
But now, the jokes have ended.
Metro, one of the longest-serving Series Futsal clubs, has turned its 2016 season around and is currently on a five-game winning-streak.
Some of that success can be attributed to the fine form of Salih Sefil, the man who broke the hearts of Balwyn two weeks ago with a last second goal, as well as scoring a half-court wonder strike against Hume last Sunday.
This Sunday in Mount Evelyn, Metro takes on premiership leaders Pascoe Vale. A win for the dominant Pascoe Vale side will ensure the team a record-breaking ninth Series Futsal Victoria crown.
And the last time these sides met, Pascoe Vale embarrassed Metropolitan 15-nil.
Can Metro erase that memory and pause Pascoe’s celebrations? Sefil believes his team is in the best place to keep his team’s winning run alive.
“We’re not the old Metropolitan – we have a strong player list, the boys are showing commitment and heart and the games are going our way,” Sefil told SeriesFutsal.com.
“We had a difficult start to the season. Our keeper Cem Bicer sat on the sidelines for the first part of the season and there were matches where we had no bench.
But with Selim (Karanfil) and (Moe) Algorabi coming back, they’ve played a major factor.”
Metropolitan currently sit seventh on the ladder, but are just four points away from third place, which would grant them an automatic entry into the Series Futsal Australia tournament (to be played in Perth this October).
“This season has turned out to be very close. Pascoe Vale is on another level, but from second down, it is anyone’s game, and we are aiming to finish as high as we can,” Sefil said.
“Between third place, there’s only four pojnts, and we play all these teams (before the end of the season), so if we can get a few more wins, we’ll be up there.
“Pascoe Vale will obviously want to win and secure the title, but we need the win just as much as they do. We’ll have our full squad and go for the three points.”
While Metro is riding high, Sefil believes that securing a coach will help the team to continue its positive momentum.
“In my opinion, we’re missing a coach – that’s the area that were lacking,” he said.
“We have very experienced players with Dino and Alija (Redzepovic), but we need a coach. Someone to direct us and lead up from the sidelines. That’s probably the next step for us – find a dedicated coach who will work with us.”
Metro takes on Pascoe Vale FC at 8pm at the Mount Evelyn Futsal Stadium this Sunday.
If you can’t make it to the match, you can watch the live stream. CLICK HERE for full coverage, starting at 5pm AEST, Sunday.