Futsal young gun’s Aus selection a dream come true

WHEN Zariah Newlan first filled in for her brother’s indoor soccer team about 18 months ago, little did she know it would be the first steps towards international futsal representation.

But in two weeks’ time, the 10-year-old Delacombe Primary School student will don the Aussie green and gold for the first time while playing in Malaysia.

In just under two years, Zariah has carved out a representative resume the envy of futsal players twice or even three times her age, starting with selection in three state teams, representing West Victoria in Brisbane, Sydney and Gold Coast.

Known for her speed, strength and devotion to teamwork, Zariah has since been selected to represent Australia in Malaysia, China and at the United Futsal World Championships in Orlando, Florida, albeit the US trip won’t be going ahead.

She has also been selected as one of 20 players out of a field of 800 for the AIFT Futures Program in Barcelona, Spain.

None of that was on the agenda when she lined up alongside older brother Zaylan in his local under-12s team in late 2024 as a fill-in.

“Zariah just showed this natural talent, so we put her in her own team and she went from nothing to everything in the space of a year,” proud mum Casey Newlan said.

 

“She got picked to represent Victoria in Brisbane last year. They didn’t have a girls team for her, so she stepped up and played in the boys team.

“There was over 250 boys in the competition and only four girls, but she was selected top 10 as an Australian All-Star.

“That got her the nod to represent Australia in Malaysia.”

Zariah will be part of an Australian girls under-11 team in Malaysia, which will play against teams from a host of Asian nations.

The trip will be her first overseas and will be fully funded by her family, with no government or sporting body funding available.

Reflecting on her whirlwind journey, Zariah admits that from the moment she first took to the court, ‘something just clicked’.

“I fell in love with the speed, the challenge, and the intensity of the game,” she said.

“From that first match, I knew this was where I belonged.”

She left an instant impression

In her first competitive season for Forest Rangers under-9 boys, Zariah scored five goals.

That led to one of her proudest moments, being chosen as captain of the all-girls Western United under-9s team, leading the team to a grand final victory after a nail-biting penalty shootout.

 

State and now national honours have flowed regularly ever since.

On representing Australia in Malaysia, Zariah said it was ‘a dream I never imagined could come true so soon’.

“Every step of this journey has been incredible, not just for what I’ve achieved, but for what I’ve learned about teamwork, leadership and believing in myself,” she said.

“I’m so grateful for my family, coaches, and community who have supported me every step of the way.

“I can’t wait to take the next steps of representing Australia, making new friends, and playing the game I love with pride.”

Proving that talent runs deep through the Newlan family, Zaylan has also twice represented Victoria in Brisbane and Sydney last year.

Futsal Ballarat and Geelong Futsal director and head coach Dermott Tebb said it was fantastic to see players like Zariah earn opportunities to experience futsal internationally.

“We’re always supportive of our players pursuing high level experiences, as exposure to different environments is an important part of their development,” Tebb said.

“At Futsal Ballarat and Geelong Futsal, we’ve worked hard to build a pathway that genuinely develops players and Zariah is a great example of that.

 

“Over the past year in particular, her development has been outstanding, highlighted by strong performances at the Melbourne Futsal League and the Gold Coast International.

“At the Gold Coast International, six players from her squad, including Zariah, were selected as All-Stars, earning the opportunity to participate at the World Futsal Championships in the United States.

“While that tour isn’t proceeding, the selection itself is a strong reflection of her quality and the level she is reaching within the game.

“Zariah’s attitude, work ethic, and willingness to learn have been key drivers behind her improvement, and she fully deserves the opportunities she’s now receiving.

“More broadly, we’re seeing the impact of our programs across the board.

“We’ve had players travel to Spain and the United States, welcomed Spanish international players into our environment, and recently seen four players selected into emerging Socceroos teams.

“Our focus remains on providing players with the best possible environment to grow, compete, and access opportunities both in Australia and abroad, and Zariah is a great example of what’s possible.”