NFPL Team of the Month - February 2022

February was a busy month in the NFPL! Dozens of high scoring games as top level players and teams were on show. But who were the Kings of the Court this month? Check out our February 2022 NFPL Team of the Month: 

GOALKEEPER: Robert Damron

Robert Damron is undoubtedly one of the finest goalkeepers in the league, and at a young age he has everything ahead of him. His commanding presence between the posts and comfort with the ball at his feet make him a huge asset to a Futsal Factory team that went 3-1-0 in February. They are currently on a 3-game win streak, with Damron taking home Player of the Week honors in Matchweek 7 after a gritty win against Ginga FS while only conceding 12 goals in this stretch. Damron will have to stay on his toes and continue to produce as Futsal Factory play two tough road games in March before ending the season at home against the league leaders. 

ALA: Jorge Guinovart

With 4 goals against Joy Athletic followed by 5 goals and 4 assists against Cadence SFC in Matchweek 6, Jorge Guinovart of the Cincinnati-based futsal club Ginga FS makes our February team of the month. His eye-catching displays included a February goal of the month nominee and earned himself a Player of the Week award for Matchweek 6. Two assists in the loss to Futsal Factory in Matchweek 7 built on his strong month. Ginga FS will need Guinovart to continue his good form in front of goal as they face Columbus Futsal in part 2 of the Battle for Ohio and a tough away trip to Grand Rapids OLé.

ALA: Dimitri Nair

Nair has consistently proven himself in influential moments for Joy Athletic as they enjoyed an undefeated February, going 3-0 with two road wins. The Minnesotan ala got on the scoresheet with two goals at home in an 8-2 demolition of Ginga FS in Matchweek 5 before an immediate rematch the following week, once again scoring two goals, including the match winner in the final 10 seconds, to beat Ginga FS in Cincinnati 8-7. In their final match of the month, Nair found two critical assists in a close 4-3 win over Columbus Futsal. Joy Athletic have four games in March, including two on the road.

PIVO: Adrian Diaz

With 3 wins in 3 games in February, it's no surprise to see Grand Rapids OLé players on the team of the month. In early February. Diaz helped OLé take down Futsal Factory Academy at home in front of a sold out crowd for the Michigan Derby in Matchweek 5. In a 15-1 away win over Futsal Indy, Diaz got on the scoresheet with 2 goals and an assist for OLé before closing out the month in style with 3 goals and a Man of the Match performance over Columbus Futsal in Matchweek 8. Grand Rapids OLé will look to close out an impressive regular season with four games in March, with every opponent bringing their best and gunning for the team at the top.

PIVO: Ahmed Zaky

With the absence of Futsal Factory Academy pivo Nik Djokic, the Michigan-based futsal club have had to find goals and assists from other places and Zaky stepped up in a big way in February. In an early-February loss at Grand Rapids OLé, Zaky opened the scoring for FFA and ended the game with two goals out of the four his team scored. Without getting on the scoresheet, Zaky enjoyed a pivotal role in their 5-3 win over Columbus Futsal in Matchweek 6, pulling the strings across the court. In a tough Matchweek 7 win over Ginga FS, Zaky provided a critical assist late in the game before closing out February with a Man of the Match performance in a come-from-behind win over Futsal Indy. Zaky claimed 3 goals and the match-winning assist in the final minute of play in that game. Futsal Factory will need Zaky to keep hitting the back of the net with a challenging March schedule that includes two road games. 

6TH MAN: Nick Rumisek

Nick Rumisek has enjoyed an incredibly consistent season, finding himself on the scoresheet every time he's stepped on the court for Ginga FS. Rumisek began his month with 1 goal and 1 assist in each game of Matchweek 6 for Ginga FS, before another 1-and-1 game on the road to Futsal Factory in Matchweek 7. In the Battle for Ohio in Matchweek 8, Rumisek claimed 3 goals in a thrilling 8-8 tie against Columbus Futsal. With two away games to Columbus and Grand Rapids in March, Rumisek's skills will be needed for Ginga FS to maintain a fight for the top spots in the league this season.

MANAGER: Ted Kroeten

Joy Athletic's Ted Kroeten manages our February Team of the Month as his team have secured second place in the NFPL after an undefeated February that included a tough road trip to Ohio. Joy Athletic won both of those games in matchweek 66 against Ginga FS and Columbus Futsal. They sit at 5-2 on the season and are the only team to have beaten Grand Rapids OLé this season in January, a win that looks more important every week. Kroeten's team have two road games and two home games in March that could see them go top of the league or fall in the standings. 

Congratulations to our February Kings of the Court and best of luck in the upcoming matches during a busy March! Find the full schedule and the full standings here.