Lucy Tawharu-Senf is a 17-year-old futsal player from Tauranga. She made her debut for the BOP Surge in the Women's SuperLeague in early 2025 when she was 15.

She is a rising talent within the futsal community - named a non-travelling reserve for the U15 BOP Surge Girls when she was just 13, in 2022. 

In 2026 she has become a key player for the Bay of Plenty (BOP) Surge.

Coach Cliff Harris says Lucy’s competitiveness is balanced by her ability to enjoy the moment.

“The other night at Ford Futsal Super League training a ball went outside. Lucy ran out to get it, but instead of rushing back she called everyone outside to look at the sunset.

“For about ten seconds we all stopped and took it in.

“That’s Lucy in a nutshell. She works incredibly hard and competes fiercely, but I’ve never seen her lose sight of the joy in the moment.”

We caught up with Lucy to chat about her futsal journey so far:

When did you first start playing football/ futsal, and how did you get into it?
I started playing when I was five, and now I'm turning 17. My parents enrolled me in football, and my Dad coached my first team, the Red Rockets. 

Do you have a preference between football and futsal?
I prefer to play futsal because I have more contact with the ball, and come into challenging one v one situations more often. Also, no matter where you are positioned on the court, you have a higher chance of shooting at the goal. 

You made your debut for BOP Surge in the Women’s SuperLeague last year at 15 years old. Tell me about that experience. 
I went to BOP trials to get exposure to the fast pace, and was lucky enough to get selected. The first season was a big learning curve, with strong opportunities and regular travel to exciting places across Aotearoa. 

What did you learn from playing alongside older and more experienced players?
I learnt rotations, formations, how to use your body effectively, and how important ball control and accurate passes are. The older and more experienced players were also very welcoming and created a safe space to learn and explore.

What parts of your game have you worked hardest on in the past couple of years?
I have worked the hardest on my fitness, with the acceleration and deceleration. This has significantly helped me to be first on the ball when I need to be. Also, in the surge team, the games can be quite long, so it's essential to have good fitness. 

Who has had the biggest influence on your development so far?
I have had multiple coaches throughout my journey, who were supportive and encouraged me to improve, never standing still. They had a genuine interest in me becoming a better player. However, the person who has and continues to have one of the biggest influences on my development is my Dad. He motivates me to keep pushing and comes up with fun drills to improve my futsal. 

What goals have you set for yourself in futsal over the next few years?
At the moment, I'm just focusing on the season and the games ahead of me. In the off-season, I will continue to keep training and striving for my best. I don't have any set goals at the moment. My last year of school is posing challenges of its own. 

What would you say to younger girls in the Bay of Plenty who might be thinking about trying futsal?
Give it a go, it's fun!

Tell me about the role futsal (and football) have for young players to develop their skills and confidence?
Futsal has lots of ball contact and, therefore, is designed to develop foot skills, tackling, one v one challenges, quick, nice passes and tight dribbling skills. The confidence will grow the more exposure you get. 

Article added: Tuesday 24 March 2026