Southern United futsal star Michael Sannum can’t wait for the 2018 Futsal National League to kick-off.

Sannum was in outstanding form as he helped Southern to an inaugural national league title in 2017, and was subsequently awarded the prestigious Player of the League title.

That recognition has extended to being named as one of three finalists for the Men’s Futsal Player of the Year, which will be decided at the New Zealand Football Awards in Auckland next month.

But Sannum is also on the verge of his most sought-after recognition - a return to international futsal with the Futsal Whites.

The former international was actually initially named in the national squad for the Futsal Whites’ tour to China in June, but illness prevented Sannum from being able to make the trip for the four-team tournament. The landmark tour saw the team travel to a non-Oceania country for the first time.

“I got selected for the wider training squad of 60 players nationwide, and attended the regional training camps in Christchurch”, said Sannum. “That got whittled down to 20 nationwide for the first national training camp, and then from that they were cutting it down to 14 for the China trip.” 

“Myself and Fraser Hunter made the 20 and then I was lucky enough to make the 14 so I was up there the weekend we were all meant to be going to China, and then unfortunately I got ill and couldn't travel over to China.”

Although understandably disappointed to miss the trip, Sannum sees that as a temporary setback provided he can re-capture his form from last season.

“It'll just come down to playing like I did last year in the Futsal National League, and hopefully that will keep me there or thereabouts.”

Sannum’s appreciated the regional training camps, which have seen him travel regularly to Christchurch. “It’s been a bit challenging because they’ve been on Mondays which has meant taking days off work, but I’m lucky to have a boss who has helped out and been really flexible."

"Having that level of training throughout the winter has been really beneficial as opposed to having a massive gap before the next national league season. It’s kept the intensity up.”

This increase in training camps over winter was a factor in Sannum sacrificing a season of 11-a-side football to prioritise on the 5-a-side game.

“I think you can do both but something we spoke about while we were away in Auckland was if we were to make a real good job as a team and make the World Cup, is how committed are people."

"You don't want to be the guy who can't get away to a training camp because you got injured playing football on a Saturday; you need to prioritise the fact that you're in a national set-up ahead of playing club football.”

Although it’s been a break from football, Sannum’s worked hard on his fitness throughout the winter. “I've kept my own gym work up, it's been kind of nice not having to worry about training on Tuesday and Thursday and instead go to a nice warm gym. Yeah, you miss football, but you also need to push for these higher honours as well”.

Sannum would love to see some of his champion Southern United teammates also make the leap to national honours.

“Fraser Hunter really enjoyed the experience of the national training camp, it’s awesome that he finally got recognised because he’s been an outstanding keeper for the past four seasons. There were another three who got selected for the wider regional training camps (Tennessee Kinghorn, Reid Hulleman, and Kasam Ali). It’s been great having a good core of guys to go to the training camps with, who have all been rewarded for their performances last year.”

“Technically, a number of guys are more than capable of making the step up. It’s just a big step up commitment wise and mentally as well.”

Although he is modest about being named a finalist for the NZ Men’s Futsal Player of the Year, Sannum is delighted that his teammates are also recognised as finalists in the Team of the Year award, along with coach Darren Hart in the Coach of the Year category.

“As a club it's awesome to see that we are progressing and futsal and football down here are starting to get recognition.”

Sannum is excited at the prospect of representing the Futsal Whites when their next fixtures are announced. In the meantime, he’s loving the environment that’s been fostered.

“It sounds like we’re looking at having more camps with the whole squad throughout the year, which would be great. Hopefully there will be more international games soon too”.

- Click here to view the full 2018 Futsal National League draw

- Article by Morgan Jarvis.

- Photos by Adam Binns Photography: Below: Mike Sannum celebrates scoring for Southern United against Canterbury in last season's Futsal National League. Bottom: Fraser Hunter, whose fine form was also rewarded with a national training camp call-up.
 

Article added: Monday 27 August 2018