Disappointment has been transformed into success for a determined coach and his young futsal team.

Mauricio Guaragna is the coach of the newly formed Whakatāne Futsal Club.

The team practises weekly at Whakatāne Intermediate School and competes in the WaiBop Futsal League, facing off against other schools, including high schools, in the region.

It is thanks to the commitment of football-loving dad Guaragna that the team has been formed.

Earlier this year, when Whakatāne Intermediate School selected a soccer team to compete at the AIMS Games in September, many students were disappointed when they were not chosen.

Guaragna, who is from soccer-mad Brazil, didn’t let this setback hold back his passion for the sport. He began a petition to gather support from other parents for a futsal training programme, aiming to create a team to participate in the AIMS Games.

However, the timeline for AIMS Games registration was too tight to form a team in time.

“I am passionate about coaching the team and believe that futsal offers significant benefits for our children and our school community,” Guaragna said at the time.

Following the AIMS Games, Guaragna formed a team of seven young futsal players.

Futsal, a fast-paced, five-a-side version of football, is one of the world’s fastest-growing indoor sports.

Guaragna is grateful to Whakatāne Intermediate School for providing the court space for the team to practice. The club has also secured sponsorship from Murphy Holiday Park, with owner Shane Salter providing uniforms and ongoing support.

“The kids are doing incredibly well, especially considering most of them are intermediate students competing against high school teams,” Guaragna said.

The team consists of seven players, five from Whakatāne Intermediate and two year 9 students from Trident High School.

“We compete in the Junior High School League, which includes Year 9 and 10 players, so we’re up against some bigger opponents,” Guaragna said.

The WaiBop Futsal League is divided into junior, high school, and senior divisions. The Whakatāne Futsal Club competes in the Junior High School League, facing off against schools such as Te Puke High School, Mount Maunganui College, Papamoa College, Tauranga Boys’ College, and ACG School.

Games are held every Sunday at Mercury Arena in Tauranga.

“Recently, we celebrated a fantastic 10–1 victory over Te Puke High School, which was a real highlight for the team.

“It’s been an exciting journey watching the kids adapt to futsal, a new sport for many of them. They’ve been showing great teamwork, coming up with their own strategies, and really stepping up to the challenge.”