ASHBURTON FC:
Many are tipping Asburton as major candidates to be the team automatically sent straight back to the championship by finishing in last for the season due to their lack of signings and potential loss of star-man Alistair Dunlop, but will this work in their favour? The Series Futsal Victoria league is known for the shock wins and losses that provided throughout the 21 round season, and with Moreland being fresh out of winning their first SFV title last season, perhaps spectators will be treated to a shock from a determined Ashburton side. Fans of SFV will hope to see key-man Dunlop dressed in green this season as his working-class side attempt to become a main-stay in a highly competitive league.
MORELAND FC:
Faced with the task of toppling underdogs Ashburton, the current champions will be tipped for victory, but will that be the cause for their downfall? Complacency has played a role in a Moreland performance in the past so the opening three points may not be as ‘easy pickings’ as they seem. This being considered, owner Deren ‘Deeman’ Saban has managed to keep hold of all of the title-winning players from last season whilst also bolstering his depth with the collection of the young and hungry Karrar Hassany, which should be enough to force an opening round victory.
PASCOE VALE FC:
After coming finger tips away from both the Futsal Oz Cup and the Series Futsal Victoria Title last season and falling centimetres short, Pascoe Vale will have an immeasurable chip on their shoulders as they search to avenge a season where they deserved much more then what they got. With the loss and absences of Alisson Lima, Joao Da Silva and Aaron Yu, the Lions will have a fresh line-up of new faces including Fabio Albuquerque, Leo Kimpara and many youth graduates. All eyes will be on the Lions as they look to prove the haters wrong and kick their 2020 season off on the strong foot by getting their revenge on the side that stripped them of the league title last season in the dying seconds, Western Wolves.
WESTERN WOLVES FC:
After a relatively successful season in their SFV domestic campaign, Western Wolves will look to put it on the lions again with an opening round victory. With Pascoe Vale already desperate for redemption and revenge, Western Wolves will hope to win the mental game, as they will line-up with many ex-Pascoe Vale players. The line-up will include Brazilian stars Brenno Polatti, Alisson Lima and Mauricio Novak which will provide for an extremely interesting encounter as the new transfers only deepen the narrative of the fixture. Owner Omar Chandab has been provided with the opportunity to begin the season as a force to be stopped and now it’s up to his side to make their biggest believer proud.
Published by Kosta Diamantopoulos