Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid admits there is doubt whether the ACT will field teams in the open men's and women's divisions at next year's national futsal championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Capital Football will enter its own team, called Capital FC, in the national competition, the F-League, starting this weekend. It means it will go head to head with Canberra team Boomerangs FC.
Capital FC will largely consist of up-and-coming players, while most of the successful ACT men's team from the national titles held at the AIS in January play for Boomerangs FC.
ACT men's captain Angelo Konstantinou singled out Capital Football for criticism during his grand final winning speech, claiming the organisation didn't put enough resources into futsal after players were forced to pay between $250 and $300 to play in the tournament.
Reid said the decision for the national titles to be held in Sydney for the next three years was likely going to have an impact on their representative teams.
"We've certainly taken on board some of the things the players have said, and there will be some interesting things we'll develop in the next few months,'' Reid said.
"The board will be considering whether we can field a men's and women's open team at the national championships.
"We'll call for players to come forward, but if they thought the cost was too much when they were playing at home, then the costs are understandably going to go up when they're playing away.''
The ACT men's team considered not entering the national championships this year because of the financial dispute, before changing its mind at the last moment.
Konstantinou was pleased Capital Football was putting money into futsal, but would appreciate more contributions to the Boomerangs FC program.
"Boomerangs are a separate club all together so they don't have an obligation to do it, but being a futsal community it would've been nice,'' Konstantinou said.
Capital FC has secured a two-year sponsorship deal with Chinese sportswear manufacturer Taxa Australia.
Reid said all players were invited to trial for Capital FC and that it would largely be a development squad to provide greater pathways for the region's futsal players.
"The intention isn't to compete with Boomerangs FC, but to complement what they're doing,'' Reid said.
"What Boomerangs have done in the NSW Premier League and the F-League is very important and we continue to support them.
"This is another opportunity for more players to be part of the F-League.''
Boomerangs FC take on St Albans Strikers and Vic Vipers on Saturday. Capital Football takes on the Strikers and Vipers on Sunday.