By Warren Olson
Capital Futsal duo Sarah Alder and Fran Grange have achieved a significant milestone as they go into the first National Series of the women’s Ford Futsal SuperLeague.
The pair both played their 50th games for Capital at the recent Southern Travel Series in Christchurch, where Capital continued their 100% winning start to the season.
Main photo: Sarah Alder (left) and Fran Grange … key members of the defending champion Capital Futsal side.
Futsal Fern Alder, who captains Capital, and Grange are long-time friends and have accumulated their half-century of appearances over many seasons, in which they’ve seen futsal grow to new heights.
Over the weekend of March 15-16, Capital will play four matches at Wellington’s Akau Tangi Sports Centre as they defend the national tile won last year. The team leads the table with six wins from as many games.
Alder took time out to share her views and experiences of top-level futsal …
Firstly, congratulations to you and Fran on achieving a milestone 50 SuperLeague games — a great effort considering you can only play eight or nine games in the SuperLeague season and, in fact, one year, I think Capital weren’t even represented at the nationals. What’s been your highlight over that time, and do you feel that at that top level, New Zealand women’s futsal has continued to get stronger?
Thank you! It is crazy to think that myself and Fran have played fifty times for Capital. I think the main highlight would have to be winning the competition last year — I feel like since the start of playing in the competition, we have slowly been building and developing the team.
The last few years, we have been competing near the top but never quite being able to pull it all together until last year, which was super rewarding.
I think women’s futsal has definitely developed over the past few years — there is a lot of young talent coming through all over the country which is exciting to see. It makes the Ford SuperLeague more competitive and keeps pushing the quality of futsal higher.
Capital coach Finn Gaupset often employs the ‘Russian Change’ or four-player rotation, which appears to be working well for you. You must be confident in the depth of the squad and the ability of the young players you’ve bought in to use this tactic …
Looking at our squad we do have a lot of depth. I think it must be hard for Finn each series to pick the team as there are some players missing out who do have the talent to be picked.
I am confident in whoever is on the court, whether they are a senior player or a player making their debut. The younger players bring a lot to our squad. Most of them have grown up playing futsal, and they aren’t afraid to show off their skill and knowledge on the court, which is great as it pushes us older ones to keep a high standard at all times.
You appear to be playing as well, if not better than ever, a four-goal bag to celebrate your 50th game, and you were only on the court for a few short spells. What do you put your form and motivation down to? Does an upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup have something to do with it?
The upcoming Futsal World Cup is definitely at the back of my mind!
It is a major source of motivation for me since the team qualified last year.
I would also have to say I am really enjoying playing and having fun with my team on the court. Finn allows us all to feel like we can do whatever we want on the court, he wants us to play with freedom which I think the team has really thrived off.
Finally, for those who make it to Wellington’s Akau Tangi centre this weekend, or catch the games on FIFA+, what can they expect to see from the Capital Women’s Futsal squad and with the playoffs looming, can you maintain your spot at the top of the ladder?
I think those watching can expect to see some exciting futsal from Capital.
We’re always looking to keep building on our past performances. Of course, we are hoping to maintain our spot at the top of the table, but we know there’ll be tough matches against top-quality sides who will make us work for the three points.
Women’s Golden Boot
9 — Britney-Lee Nicholson (Canterbury United Pride), Sarah Alder (Capital)
8 — Natalie Olson (Capital)
7 — Lilly Dowsing (Hawke’s Bay)
After the completion of the first National Series, all the teams will head to Auckland for the weekend of March 29-30 for the second National Series, in which 32 more games will be hosted by Takanini’s Bruce Pulman Arena.
The top four teams in each league will qualify for the Finals Series to be held over the weekend of April 12-13, at the Pulman Arena.
READ MORE: Top sides head to Wellington for National Series 1 in Ford Futsal SuperLeagues >>>>
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday March 1, 2025
Canterbury United Pride v Hawke’s Bay Futsal
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 1.30pm
Southern United v Papakura City/NRF
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 1.30pm
Palmerston North Marist v Waikato Rapids
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 1.30pm
Capital Futsal v Bay of Plenty Surge
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 3.15pm
Southern United v Hawke’s Bay Futsal
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 6.45pm
Palmerston North Marist v Papakura City/NRF
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 6.45pm
Capital Futsal v Waikato Rapids
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 8.30pm
Canterbury United Pride v Bay of Plenty Surge
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 8.30pm
Games to be played on Sunday March 2, 2025
Southern United v Waikato Rapids
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 10am
Palmerston North Marist v Bay of Plenty Surge
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 10am
Capital Futsal v Hawke’s Bay Futsal
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 10.am
Canterbury United Pride v Papakura City/NRF
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 10am
Canterbury United Pride v Waikato Rapids
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 1.30pm
Southern United v Bay of Plenty Surge
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 1.30pm
Palmerston North Marist v Hawke’s Bay Futsal
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 3.15pm
Capital Futsal v Papakura City/NRF
Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington, 3.15pm
Previous results
Southern Travel series
RESULTS: Weekend of March 1-2 >>>>
Northern Travel series
RESULTS: Weekend of February 22-23 >>>>
Central & Southern Home series
RESULTS: Weekend of February 15-16 >>>>
Auckland & Waikato Home series
RESULTS: Weekend of February 8-9 >>>>
Warren Olson
Warren Olson is a Wellington-based enthusiast for and long-time follower of women’s football.
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This story was first published on March 14, 2025.
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