Familiarity, quality coaching and desire were all vital ingredients of the Hawke's Bay-dominated Central team which won the national under-19 boys futsal title last weekend.
"We had the desire. We weren't the best futsal team there but we worked really hard," joint golden gloves winner Daniel Robinson said as he reflected on the Tai Barham-coached Central side's seven-game unbeaten run at the Palmerston North-hosted nationals which attracted 60 teams from the country's seven federations.
One of seven Bay players in the 10-strong Central team, Robinson, was thrilled to share the golden gloves award with fellow Central keeper Luke Bateman of Manawatu.
"It's my first golden gloves title. I missed out by one goal at the national secondary schools champs in Wellington in March when we finished second so it was good to get it this time."
Like captain Ethan Martin, Max Simcox and Josh Bowie, Robinson, played for the Napier Boys' High School football team which won their Super 8 tournament earlier this month. Like all of the Bay contingent which also included Luke Morgan, Ben Lack and Aiden Robson, Robinson, 17, will be eligible for the Central team next year. However, he could end up playing against them.