Futsal Club Toronto Announces Preliminary Defi Futsal Tournament Team Roster

Photo courtesy of Bob Lum
Player/Coach Alvaro Yaques, Head Coach Lorenzo
Redwood and mentor coach Jonathan Sequin.

Monday, February 18, 2013 15:05 est.

Futsal Club Toronto’s(FCT) head coach Lorenzo Redwood has submitted the preliminary roster for the2013 Defi Futsal Tournament being held in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec on March 2-3, 2013.A 10-man roster will be chosen by February 25 to travel to Quebec to representFutsal Club Toronto at this grand futsal event.

The futsal playersselected for the Defi Futsal Tournament currently form part of the Futsal ClubToronto men’s team. Notable players like Matthew Rios, Alvaro Yaques and DanielChamale are also members of the Canadian Men’s National Futsal team and have agreat deal of experience at the domestic and international futsal stage. Headcoach Redwood commented:

"As a coach it is a pleasure to have senior playerslike Yaques, Rios and Chamale who have a vast amount of experience which theycarry from the CONCACAF Futsal Qualifiers in 2012 and rising youth players likeKevin Valdez, Jacob Orellana, Mauricio Chamale and Alex Flores. These playersare a potential arsenal for the squad and excellent candidates for Canada’sfuture futsal squad. This tournament is an opportunity for these players togrow in the game. To play alongside and against national players will help themdevelop and also for FCT to showcase unseen talent. They are all working hardat training and are all vying for a spot on the travelling roster.”

Photo courtesy of Jorge Rios
Technical Director/player/coach Roy Blanche during a U16 training session.
Coach Blanche is now part of the Al Arabi SC coaching staff in Kuwait City.

A notable absenteeis world renowned goalkeeper Roy Blanche who also represented Canada at the2012 CONCACAF Futsal World Cup Qualifiers in Guatemala. Due to his currentposition as assistant futsal coach & goalkeeper coach for Al Arabi SportsClub in Kuwait City he will not be travelling with the squad to Quebec.

The Defi FutsalTournament is entering its 5^th consecutive year and was inauguratedin 2009 by Vincent Cournoyer and Louis-Charles Laliberte; both members of theCanadian National Futsal Team. Currently, the tournament is hosting 50 plusfutsal teams (32 men’s and 20 women) in four divisions. The organizing committeehave mentioned the likes of Canadian Soccer League (CSL) players, Europeanplayers and others from CIS University teams in attendance. Louis-Charles wasavailable for comment and forwarded the following statement:

 “I am happy to invite and consider Futsal ClubToronto as one of the top ranked teams in this year’s event. Being able toexpand our activities outside the Quebec province and receiving help from oneof the major club(s) of futsal in the country is something we look forward tobuild on. The participation of players from [the] Canadian National Team issomething good for the tournament, for the community and for the sport ingeneral.”

The 5^thEdition of the Defi Futsal Tournament is a sanctioned event under the QuebecSoccer Federation. A press conference will take place closer to the launch ofthe tournament by the organizers.

FCT Men's squad during training session

PreliminaryRoster

Head Coach-LorenzoRedwood|CAN

GK- Roy Blanche| CAN| Al Arabi SC

GK- Andres Gavioli|
GK- Anthony Alvez|
Alvaro Yaques| CAN

Daniel Chamale| CAN
Matthew Rios| CAN

Kevin Valdez|
Jason Alvarez|
Timo Garzon|
Jacob Orellana|
Jonathan Osorio|
Leo Laurito|
Carlos Rojas|
Alex Flores|
Chris Duenas|

Mauricio Chamale|

FCT Casino Rama Fundraiser

FCT Casino Rama Fundraiser being held on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013. Bus departs at 5:00pm from Highway 400 & HWY 7 car pool returning 11:30pm.

Your chance to win FCT Apparel and join in an evening of pure Futsal!

All proceeds go to FCT Men's Travel/Tournament fund for 2013 season.

For additional information please call:

Angela Blanche 905-452-8415
Veronica Harispuru 647-997-8376

admin@futsalclubtoronto.com

Deadline FEBRUARY 11, 2012.

Blanche takes on new role with Al Arabi Sporting Club

Roy Blanche, Technical Director and head goalkeeper coach of Futsal Club Toronto, has filled the managerial vacancy of Al Arabi Sporting Club (Kuwait) futsal; as the newly appointed futsal goalkeeper coach. He joins the technical staff lead by non other than head coach Rubio Mileo Guerra.

Blanche, 33 one of Canada's most successful futsal players and current coach of Futsal Club Toronto holds a successful track record in Canadian futsal history. He has over 50 international games played at the club and national team level, and has played in North America, Central America, South America and the Middle East. He has played against world renowned players like non other the famous Brazilian Falcao, Linisio, Barcelona duo Wilde & Ari and Colombian sensation Pinilla.

Rubio Mileo Guerra has provided the following statement from his home in Kuwait City early this morning:

"I am very ecstatic with the new appointment of Roy Blanche, who holds a remarkable futsal career in the Canadian futsal scene and today is part owner with Lorenzo Redwood in the Canadian Futsal school known as Futsal Club Toronto. I strongly believe he will be able to contribute vastly, in the individual growth of my futsal goalies through the experience he has gained on the court. This will also be a great experience for his coaching record, a journey he has already started and I have no doubt he will be a very successful one. Coach Blanche, was part of my futsal journey in Canada as an athlete on my squad. Together, we have a great friendship and professional relationship which we solidified during his visit to Qatar Sports Club in 2009. I strongly believe with Blanche's appointment, we will have an optimal technical staff at Al Arabi Sporting Club. Best of luck to all of us and congratulations to Coach Blanche."

Blanche will be fully involved with Futsal Club Toronto while in Kuwait City and has provided the following statement:

"This is a great opportunity for myself as I start building my coaching experience and at the same time this is phenomenal news for Futsal Club Toronto's growth. I will be able to provide the club with new material as I continue to gain valuable experience from Rubio Mileo Guerra, a world class futsal coach and my mentor. Rubio has been our Director of International exchange at the club and we have great plans lined up for Futsal Club Toronto players as they continue their training with Lorenzo Redwood, Alvaro Yaques and Nico Fernandes along side manager of operations Joseph Candelaresi and our coordinator at FCT, Veronica Harispuru. I will be retuning at the end of May as the futsal league finishes of in Kuwait and I will continue my commitment to the growth of our club, coaching staff and futsal in Canada. I am honoured to join Al Arabi Sporting Club and look forward to this great futsal opportunity.

Blanche will be arriving in Kuwait this Sunday and will form part of Rubio Guerra's technical staff, who has lead the squad to its current third place position in the Kuwait Futsal League. He will also work with the U17 futsal program and the Al Arabi Men's futsal team. He has been also apointed as a player/coach and Rubio will utilize Roy on the court as the opportunity arises. We look forward to hearing about his success' in futsal with this great international experience.

Futsal Club Toronto releases message of condolence over player's death

December 23, 2012-Toronto, ON

It is with great sadness Futsal Club Toronto announces the passing of Alvaro Gaston Monico (May 18, 1993- December 22, 2012) suddenly at his home at the young age of 19.

"Alvarito" was an active player in the soccer/futsal community with Glen Shields, Cruz Azul and Club Uruguay Toronto. On behalf of Futsal Club Toronto and the worldwide futsal family, we wish to extend our condolences to the Club Uruguay Toronto community and most importantly, to the Monico family, his friends and loved ones.

In memory of Alvaro Gaston Monico (May 18, 1993-December 22, 2012)

FCT unveils new kit for 2012/2013 Season

Roy Blanche FCT Technical Dir. with
Ron Davidson Givova Rep.

11 December, 2012 08:30

Futsal Club Toronto are delighted to launched their new kit for the 2012/2013 Canadian Premier Futsal League season in Toronto, Ontario. The new kit will be inaugurated on January 06, 2013 when the Canadian Premier Futsal League kicks of the futsal season in a league match; which is yet to be determined.

Club owners and former team mates Lorenzo Redwood and Roy Blanche decided to revive the former FCT club colors, a deep red & blue which they were well know for in the past. The model was chosen based on the collaboration of the duo, Givova representative Ron Davidson and the opinions of supporters and club members.

Roy Blanche comments: "After hours of debate we were able to decide on a kit that is very stylish and one which best represents the club and likes of team members and supporters. We wanted to incorporate the colors formerly used in 2010, while the stripes across the chest remind of us of how proud Lorenzo and myself are of the future of this club and represents our hard work, determination and passion for futsal."

Ultimate Sports is an authorized sales representative of Givova's high quality products in North America. Givova is the official supplier to the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and other soccer clubs in Canada, as well as the Serbian Olympic Team, national soccer team of Malta and numerous professional clubs around the world.

The club is excited about making FCT merchandise available long before the launch of the 2012/2013 Futsal Season. On how to get hold of FCT merchandise please contact the club: admin@futsalclubtoronto.com.

Men's Elite squad preparations for 2012/2013 Futsal Season

FCT Head Coach & Canadian National Futsal Team
Assistant Coach in Guatemala City

04 December, 2012 12:10

The Ecuadorian born Canadian and assistant coach to the Canadian National Men’s Futsal Team is back to the drawing board at Futsal Club Toronto; after a trip to Costa Rica and Guatemala City for the CONCACAF Futsal World Cup Qualifiers in June 2012.

Lorenzo Redwood, has joined forces with partner Roy Blanche this season and together they have re-inaugurated Futsal Club Toronto. After a successful campaign in 2010/2011 the Futsal Duo decided to re-establish Futsal Club Toronto and continue their successful futsal training with the club that won the 2011 Copa Canada Futsal National Championship title. Lorenzo Redwood, worked his magic in 2011/2012 with Brampton City United Futsal Academy and together they managed to secure 3 championship titles in the Toronto Futsal League, and crowned Men's Champions of the Canadian Premier Futsal League. Lorenzo was also awarded 2011 Toronto Futsal League "Best Coach of the Year".

In addition to preparing the team for the fixtures, Redwood will be looking at strengthening the squad with new signings. He will be taking a closer look at some international futsal talent that the club requires, and especially those players that are suitable to the needs of the team.

Redwood looks forward to the release of the fixture list for the 2012-2013 futsal season, and also the release of international tournaments details for 2013; Futsal Club Toronto is pumped up for the upcoming year. Players with the likes of staff are all looking forward to kicking off this new season; even though it is expected to be a more challenging year than the last one.

Redwood stated:

“The confirmation of the fixtures galvanizes everyone's thoughts towards the new season and the planning and preparation has already begun. We are looking forward to our opening game and expect it to be a challenging start.There's a lot of hard work to be done between now and then in order to ensure we are ready for the season ahead, but we are certainly looking forward to seeing what we can achieve with the new squad. We are looking at incorporating some U16 players from the club as well as some familiar faces and some exciting international talent. Futsal is definitely a priority for clubs and parents looking to strengthen their technique and ability; and this strengthens the competition across the board.

Redwood revealed that he felt his side has a lot of work cut out for them before they are fully prepared for the upcoming season.

Futsal Club Toronto U8-U16 spots available

Futsal Club Toronto registration for U8-U16 division is open with space available for players who are interested in training with Canada's best futsal coaches Roy Blanche & Lorenzo Redwood. Please visit our online registration page or contact admin@futsalclubtoronto.com dare to be part of FCT "King of the Courts".