Brazil trip to cost players $30k

Round the world: Lismore Futsal players Damien Parker (20), Nick Baker (19), Kristy McCann (16), Shelby Parker (16), Elliott Black (16) and Jack Pearce (16) have the chance to learn more about the game and play in Brazil.

Jerad Williams

SIX Lismore Futsal (indoor soccer) players may have the opportunity of a lifetime after being chosen for a trip to Brazil.

The problem is they need to raise more than $30,000 to get there for the planned mid-November trip.

Damien Parker, Shelby Parker, Nick Baker, Kristy McCann, Elliot Black and Jack Pearce have been scouted at regional and national tournaments and selected to take part in the Vikings Select Tour of Brazil.

The group will spend 16 days in the South American nation where they will visit the home town of soccer legend Pele and train in the state-of-the-art facility used by the five-time world champion Brazilian national team.

But first they need to raise the money – each needs $6500 to be on the trip.

So for now it's heads down and bums up as the six Futsal hopefuls host barbecues, run raffles and knock on doors in search of donations.

But 16-year-old Shelby Parker knows it will all be worth it.

“Brazil is the home of Futsal,” Parker said.

“It's an amazing chance for us to get over there and be around the Brazilians, play against them and be coached by their coaches.”

If you are in a position to help these locals reach their goal through donations of cash or prizes for a raffle, phone Kathalina Parker on 0412-544687.