Two Manning Futsal players from Wingham have recently represented Australia overseas.
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Fifteen-year-old Braithe Waites and his 10-year-old brother Bronson have plenty of tales to tell of their globe-trotting adventures.
Braithe, accompanied by his mum Kara Ford, recently returned from a three week Futsal intensive tour of Brazil with an Australian 15 boys and girls representative team.
While Braithe may have lost count of the number of games he played, he certainly hasn’t forgotten the feeling of his team winning the tournament with just 60 seconds to go.
“It was the first time an Australian team has won anything in Brazil,” he said proudly.
The Australian Futsal Association Brazil tour gave Braithe and his fellow team members the opportunity to train with Brazilian coaches as well as compete against other teams.
Once the training camp was finished the players were able to spend a few days sight seeing in Rio de Janeiro.
The trip was Braithe’s second stint at representing Australia overseas. Two years ago he played Futsal with the Under 13s in China.
He’s also a highly skilled soccer player – with both brothers playing for the Wingham Warriors – and hopes to one day play professionally.
There’s no denying the brothers are highly competitive.
Braithe’s trip followed on from his younger brother’s big overseas trip in October 2017 to Malaysia.
Bronson and his dad Brian Ford spent 10 days travelling from Miri to Kuching in West Malaysia with Bronson playing for the Australian Futsal Association under 10s.
He played 12-13 games over a two week period, honing his skills in his favourite sport.
The team won both their competitions.
“They were the most successful team Australia had sent at that stage,” said Brian.
It was a trip that nearly didn’t happen.
The Australian Futsal under 10s representative tour was originally due to take place in Japan.
But with tensions between Japan and North Korea rising the tour became a risky one.
Fortunately the tour destination was changed to Malaysia possibly making the team the first under 10 team to be sent there.
They were welcomed warmly by the Malaysians with local school children fascinated by the visiting Australians.
A highlight for Bronson was being invited to play (and win) in front of the Malaysian sports minister.
The family moved to Wingham from Broken Hill in October 2014 with the boys initially playing the soccer season. They started futsal in September 2015.
