Collingwood leader Ben Monteleone says that mental strength and game intensity will be the key factors to avoiding instant relegation from the cut-throat world of Series Futsal.
After building a young squad through the State Championship ranks, Monteleone’s Collingwood side made the leap up to Series Futsal this season, only to find the going tough in the opening half of the competition.
After 16 rounds, the team’s efforts have yielded three wins, despite a number of close calls.
Those close calls finally turned it a win, thumping a hapless Metropolitan FC and lifting Collingwood off the bottom of the table for the first time since the early rounds.
But the team is not out of the woods yet and face a tough final five games.
Monteleone hopes that the Metropolitan win will keep the team edging towards Series Futsal survival.
“The win over Metropolitan was immensely important for us. It allowed us to climb off the bottom of the ladder which is a massive psychological boost for the players,” Monteleone told SeriesFutsal.com.
“I think it’s a result we can take a lot of confidence from and one that could prove to be the catalyst for more important wins in the remaining games in the season.
“We are by no means clear of instant relegation but I feel if we can build on this positive performance, we will definitely win more games and avoid the drop.”
Collingwood’s run home includes Brunswick, Ashburton, Hume, Pascoe Vale and Balwyn, with the Ashburton game looming as the relegation showdown.
Monteleone feels that the mental strength of his young team will be the ultimate difference.
”We definitely have a tough run home but I think all of the games are certainly winnable for us,” he said.
“The Ashburton game will could prove to be a season-defining match for both clubs. It will definitely add a lot of pressure for the players but I’m sure if we play with the correct mentality and intensity, we can definitely get the result we are after.”
Get down to the Thomastown Stadium today for live Series Futsal action! Can Collingwood pull off an upset against the red-hot Brunswick team?
If you can’t be there in person, CLICK HERE for the live stream link on the Futsal Oz YouTube channel.
See below for the four Round 17 games.
7:00pm: Hume FC v Metropolitan FC
8:00pm: FC Collingwood v CF Brunswick
9:10pm: Fitzroy FC v Pascoe Vale FC
10:10pm: Ashburton FC v FC Balwyn