The Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s season kick’s off this weekend, let’s check out how each of the teams have recruited for this year.
APIA FC Futsal:
Kicking us off is APIA FC Futsal. They were a side that battled through last season and earned themselves a semi-final spot and looking to take a further step forward in 2025. APIA FC Futsal believe they have the roster for a tilt at the title under returning coach Zoehier Belkadi.
Bilal Belkadi returns looking to fill the net again alongside brother Jamal Belkadi and lynchpins Adam Khalaf and Marcus Sparacino give them a solid spine. They have reinforced themselves with former Eagle Rocco Pelle, Corey Smith and Peter Kekeris for further punch.
Looking over that side will put APIA FC Futsal amongst the challengers for the silverware this season especially if APIA FC Futsal can avoid the injuries and availabilities that plagued them last season.
Central Coast United FC:
The new team on the block, Central Coast United Futsal Club are ready to make an impact in their inaugural season in the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s competition. The excitement for their debut is quite palpable and they are keen to showcase futsal in the Central Coast region.
Helping with that mission is their head coach Ian McAndrew, who is a former Futsalroo, playing alongside Tom Rogic so he will bring plenty of knowledge and experience to a Central Coast United Futsal Club ready to make a splash.
The main aim for the club headed into their first season is getting themselves ready to go and establish themselves in the futsal space. To do so they have enlisted the services of former APIA FC Futsal player Zayd Husein who will take the armband for the opening campaign.
Macarthur Quake Futsal Club:
The band is back together again for last season’s Champions Macarthur Quake Futsal Club and they will be looking to defend their title. Futsal legend Dean “Bully’ Lockhart will lead the side again alongside the prolific goal scorer Mark Symington who tallied 20 goals in the title winning campaign.
Danny Martinez and Alec Purves are two big names also donning the purple again in 2025 bringing their 15 goals to the cause. Keeper Brad Peryman returns between the sticks after being a wall for the Quake last season.
Otherwise, it is the same cast returning for the sequel for Quake including Bradon Clissold, Aiden Limbrey alongside Connor and Shawn Irwin rounding off the squad. Lachlan Gore and Adrian Arcuri are the new blood added to the Quake team who are hungry for more.
Phoenix Futsal Club:
It was a successful campaign for Phoenix Futsal Club in 2024, lifting the Premiership trophy and making a Grand Final appearance but that has also kept them hungry to maintain their success under goalkeeper and coach James Brunacci.
Phoenix Futsal Club has managed to keep the majority of the side that went all the way to the summit last year including Paul Lee, Connor Slater and Matthew Luttringer who featured on the scoresheet regularly.
Their signings have helped to give them some extra bite with Winter Futsal League top scorer Issac Duncan Daley joining alongside the dynamic duo of Lachlan Parkin and Nico Marull and reserve keeper Justin Farag for Phoenix Futsal Club’s continued rise.
Raiders Futsal Club:
Raiders Futsal Club are a side who are always in contention and 2024 was the first season in several years where they didn’t feature in the Grand Final. They will be determined to return to the big dance with their talented squad.
Plenty of their big names come back for another season including Christopher Godoy Bascur, keeper Ibrahim Daniel and Tomas Medimurac. Slaven Ljuboja is on the bench coaching again alongside brother Goran, rallying his troops towards to another strong campaign.
SD Raiders Futsal:
SD Raiders FC didn’t have a season which lived up to their high standards last season so they are back with a point to prove in 2025. Matt Borg remains at the helm for the side and he has retained much of their core who are hungry for goals.
Leading the way for SD Raiders FC is prolific goal scorer Matthew Barkho who tallied 13 goals last season alongside weapons like Bruno Antelmi and Peter Daniel who can light up the pitch when it is required.
They have some signings to round out their squad for 2025 but Carl Skobla is another name which will don the jersey for SD Raiders FC. Brothers Kaisem and Yousef Anwar help to round out the core which they hope can return to finals football.
South Coast Taipans:
South Coast Taipans return to Futsal Premier League 2 with a strong structure left in place as they rebuild themselves for the future in 2025. Sharpshooter Matthew Mazevski, Tyson Black, Kyle Del and Ryan Henderson form a solid base of their squad.
Coach Bobby Mazevski does lose the services of Futsalroos star Jyden Harb to the Futsal Premier League but the Taipans have some talented youth to fill the void. Levi Martins, Oliver Morgan and Max Cunial all get their chance to impress this season.
Rounding off their squad is a pair of returns from fellow FPL2 side. Logan Mathie comes over from Phoenix Futsal Club while Daniel Merola rejoins after a year away. Lastly keeper Kaydin Harrison returns from an injury absence to partner Brandon Groom between the sticks.
West City Crusaders:
West City Crusaders finished just outside the finals spots last season and they are determined to take another step this season. That has been underlined with the signings of former Sydney City Eagles marksman Robert Perre and Mark Lancaster to headline their squad.
Crusaders are another side which has kept most of the band back together as they look to make PCYC Hawkesbury a fortress this season. Experienced campaigners including former Futsalroo Benjamin Lam, captain Ryan Faulkner and Samuel Young all return.
Combined with all the experienced heads, there is some talented youth amongst the Crusaders ranks ready to help fill in across the season. Lachlan Cremona, Tobias Witjes and Sebastian Rasic will be names to keep an eye out for.
Round 1 Fixtures – Saturday 13 September 2025
Raiders Futsal Club vs Central Coast United – Thomas Hassell Anglican College – 4:20pm
APIA FC Futsal vs Phoenix Futsal Club – Valentine Sports Park – 5pm
South Coast Taipans vs Macarthur Quake Futsal Club – Illawarra Hockey Centre – 5:10pm
West City Crusaders vs SD Raiders FC – PCYC Hawkesbury – 6pm
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
