NFPL Team of the Month - January 2022

As the 2021/22 NFPL season kicked into high gear in January, some teams and players rose above the rest. Check out the January Team of the Month:

GOALKEEPER: MIGUEL CERVANTES

With an eye-catching display between the posts and adding three goals and one assist to his own statsheet in their Matchweek 2 victory over Joy Athletic, Miguel Cervantes of Grand Rapids OLé makes it into the NFPL Team of the Month. The OLé goalkeeper continued his great start to the season as Grand Rapids are top of the table with only 16 goals allowed and 46 goals scored. 

FIXO: BENNETT KOUAME

Joy Athletic burst onto the NFPL scene with a resounding 6-1 win at home over Futsal Factory Academy in Matchweek 1. Kouame caught the eye with two goals and one assist that game, and he continued to make his presence felt on the court and on the stat sheet throughout January, propelling Joy Athletic to second place in the standings. 

ALA: ERIK HEGERTY

Ginga FS veteran Erik Hegerty found the back of the net many times in January, including a four-goal haul in Matchweek 4 to take down Futsal Indy. Keep an eye on Hegerty as Ginga FS, currently in 3rd place, look to move up the rankings with three home games in February. 

ALA: JONATHAN STOUT

Jonathan Stout spent much of January terrorizing defenses across the NFPL. A precise finisher and elastic dribbler, Stout gets crowds on their feet and defenders off their feet. He's scored in every game he's played in this season for Grand Rapids OLé and they'll need him to keep banging them in as they finish February and start March with three straight road games. 

PIVO: YUL ILLIDGE

Yul Illidge made his NFPL debut for Columbus Futsal in January with a hat trick in Matchweek 3 against Futsal Indy in Indianapolis. In that match, Yul's goals dragged Columbus back into the game and kept the pressure on a resolute Futsal Indy defense. Watch out for the Columbus Futsal pivo as they play their home opener in a hunt for crucial points for the Ohio futsal club.

6TH MAN: NIK DJOKIC

Futsal Factory Academy pivo Nik Djokic rounds out our January Team of the Month after a fantastic game at home in Matchweek 4 against Joy Athletic. His performance (two assists and a goal) earned him man of the match awards and his stunning free kick earned him the NFPL January Goal of the Month honor as well. His absence was sorely felt in Futsal Factory's loss to Grand Rapids and he'll be the key man to watch as Futsal Factory hope to close out February with victories in crucial home games.

MANAGER: FABIAN RODRIGUEZ

Grand Rapids OLé manager Fabian Rodriguez leads our January Team of the Month as his team have unsurprisingly filled much of the squad. Grand Rapids have started the season on fire, dropping a narrow game to Joy Athletic 2-3 in Matchweek 4 at home, but other than that slip up they have been nearly unplayable, scoring at will while maintaining the league's stingiest defense - a good combination to have. At 4-1-0 and with a goal differential of +30, Grand Rapids OLé sit on top of the NFPL table at the end of the month. 

Congratulations to all and best of luck in your upcoming games!