Helsinki beckons Southland Spirit player

BARRY HARCOURT/Southland Times

EYE SPIRITS: Spirit FC will be represented at the Uefa Futsal Cup next month with import Craig Milne playing for Scottish champions Fair City Santos.

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It's a long way from Invercargill to Helsinki in Finland but that is where Spirit FC footballer Craig Milne will be next month when he competes in the first group stage of the Uefa Futsal Cup.

Scottish import Milne has been in Invercargill this winter playing for the Southland-based side in the Footballsouth premier league. With the season drawing to a close, however, he will head home shortly to link up with his Scottish national league-winning futsal side Fair City Santos.

The club won its local title in the central Scottish city of Perth and then took out the national Futsal League title to earn a berth as Scotland's representative at the all-Europe tournament.

Milne's Fair City Santos team will play the national club winners from France, Finland and England in Helsinki during five days next month and, if they win that tournament, will advance to the next stage of the competition against other winners from the continent.

Milne said his team-mates in Scotland were counting down the sleeps until the tournament kicked off. "It's going to be great. It's the Champions League of Futsal."

Futsal is similar to indoor football and played on a wooden or artificial court by teams of five players, including the goalkeeper. The main differences from indoor football are that walls or boards are not used and the ball is slightly smaller.

Milne said the emphasis of the game was on passing and tactical awareness.

"Futsal is more aimed at technique and skill. You can go anywhere on the park, too."

The Scotsman, who has been playing futsal for about 15 years, said the sport was becoming more popular in his homeland. He has been playing in the local futsal league at Stadium Southland on Monday nights during his time in Invercargill.

Spirit FC have endured a tough season in the Footballsouth premier league this winter but Milne said he had still had a wonderful time in Southland."I've enjoyed it immensely. The results have picked up the last few weeks. There are some good young players coming through."

Milne intends to play for his Jeanfield Swifts club in the local league back home in Perth and said he was open to returning to New Zealand and Spirit FC again next year.

"I could do if they asked me again," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News