The business end of Ford Futsal Superleague 2022 happens this weekend at Pulman Area in Takanini, with a full day of matches on Saturday and finals day on Sunday. 

Three NRF clubs are in the mix - on the womens' side, Papakura City will meet East Coast Bays in the final at 12pm Sunday, while Auckland City need one point from two games to make the final, where East Coast Bays will be waiting for them. 

• Watch: Saturday's matches are on Sky Sport Next, Sunday's are on Sky Sport
• What: See the full Ford Futsal Super League draw, results and match centres

Papakura City and the Futsal Fern's Maxine Cooper has enjoyed the challenge of the Ford Super League, and has her sights set on a trophy on Sunday. 

"It's always a bit nerve racking seeing what works, but we had a really good start on day one, and creating exciting plays. We were trying different things over the weekend and implementing what we've done in training, we know what works and are all feeling super, super motivated to go out and win the thing," said Maxine Cooper.  

City's opening weekend saw a mix of high scoring encounters, with 5-1 and 8-3 victories over WaiBOP Futsal, and tight encounters against East Coast Bays, going down 0-1 in the late match on Sunday. 

"It's an exciting sport! It's one of those ones that can change at any minute and there's always you know, there's lots of goals and excitement. That's why we love it!" said Maxine. 

Papakura City will face East Coast Bays in the women's final, while Bays' men's team have already booked their spot and provided one of the moments of the tournament with keeper Guilherme Garbuglia's outrageous run and cannon shot that's racked up thousands of social media views. 

Guilherme, who emigrated to New Zealand in 2016, is relishing the chance to show what he can do. 

"If you ask Sam, our manager, I did literally the same goal in our warm up just like 20 minutes before - he said 'Whoa, that was that was a good,' and I look at him and say I'd love to have this opportunity to during the game." 

"I saw the court open up and I was covered by my team mates, which gave me the chance to go. I just read it, and I was trying to find a good pass! I mean come on, keepers don't expect keepers to shoot, and it was pretty fun to score against another keeper!"

Bays beat Auckland City in the first game, and followed up with high scoring wins over the WaiBOP sides - they'd love another chance to meet City in the final, should they make it.  

"I just I just would love to have the opportunity to to win this to win the league, you know, it's my first time playing this league. Being out there on the court with national level players is something special but also a bit scary, because the level is so high!" said Garbuglia. 

The opportunity to bring NRF club sides in the Ford Super League is proving a win-win for clubs and players. 

"It's been awesome, City have been incredibly supportive, with some supporters coming out to watch - the City team have been awesome and great to work with," said Maxine Cooper.

"It's just incredible, I mean, people at the club are just buzzing over it. And the fact that they're able to actually watch it live on the Sky Sport Next, it's been it's been awesome," said Duane Sommerville, Operations Manager at East Coast Bays FC.

Article added: Friday 18 November 2022