Courtesy: Times Of India


Soccer's shorter version futsal finds feet in city

17 Feb 2009

by Yagnesh Mehta

SURAT: The city played host to recent state-level under-21 football tournament, which was enjoyed by hundreds and their joy knew no bounds when Surat won the trophy. Now, the citizens are crazy about another form of football- futsal.

Huge crowds are turning up to witness the night tournament being played by 24 city-based schools at Seventh Day Adventist School. The five-day Inter School Futsal Tournament for under-14 and 19 began on February 15.

Futsal is a 25 minute game with a break of five minutes. The game is played on 40 m x 20 m ground with five players in each team, including the goalkeeper. The goal post measures just 3 m x 2 m.

"It's a fast game and a player needs to have quick reflexes. To score a goal, he must exhibit and put to use all his skills at disposal," says a football coach Dinesh Parmar.

According to experts, the game is popular in Brazil and many European countries. "Majority of players in Brazil and Europe practise futsal to improve their skills. A good futsal player can go on to become a good football player too," Parmar says.

"It's exhaustive and one requires good stamina. Though it's played in a small ground and for short duration, it's challenging," says a futsal player Ankit Patel.

Another form of futsal evolving on sidelines of the tournament is a game of two players a side. "This form of futsal does not need a goalkeeper as the players have to do both -- attack and defend -- at the same time," Parmar says.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com