Giants FC represented the North to take out the 2017 Islanders Cup tournament.

The North retained a four-game winning streak over three rivals from the South and North West, culminating in a 5-3 win in the cup final.  

Launceston City NPL Tasmania veteran Alex Rossetto founded Giants FC and the North player coach was left satisfied with his side’s influence on the game.

“Definitely for the players and for the club to have a Launceston-based team win the (Islanders Cup) competition is always good for the north of the state,” he said.

Rossetto pointed to goalkeeper Evan Fagan as “outstanding” in a side hard to pick a standout.

The trailblazers of futsal’s version of five-a-side indoor soccer are regarded at the top of 60 sides that play across multiple men’s and mixed divisions in Launceston.

“That squad has played consistently together now for the past two or so years,” Rossetto said.

“They compete each week together and played in state teams together, as well, for most of those players.

“When we were in Sydney in January, they played in under-21 Australian championship event, which we got to the grand final that was filled with the boys from the Northern Islanders (team).” 

Rossetto has had four years involvement with futsal coaching and state teams.

But the development of the sport has grown exponentially in that time, he said. 

“It’s definitely growing in Tasmania, but in Launceston it is pretty big at the moment.”