Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News
January 15, 2003

News and information on Futsal/Indoor Soccer from around the world


ASIA

JAPANESE COACH SELECTS ROSTER FOR MATCH-UP AGAINST BRAZIL
Japan’s Futsal National Team Head Coach Michico Harada selected a 12-player roster on Jan. 14, that will travel to Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil to take on the host in an international friendly at the Ginasio Poliesportivo on Jan. 19. Japan, who finished second at the 2002 Asian Futsal Championships in Indonesia, are making their first-ever trip to Brazil. Both teams have met once in futsal international play and the Samba Kings easily defeated the Japanese 13:1 on Sept. 27, 1996 in Canberra, Australia.
Japan’s Players
Hisamitsu Kawahara, Osamu Nambata, Hidemi Izumi, Takaaki Ichihara, Kazuhiro Yamatsuta, Yoshitumi Maeda, Kazuya Matsuda, Kenta Fujii, Kiyoshi Sagane, Kenichiro Kogure, Yuki Kanayama, Hiroyuki Watanabe.
Coach – Michico Harada

IRAN, ITALY OPEN TWO-GAME SERIES WITH A 3:3 DRAW
The Italy’s Futsal National Team played host Italy to a 3:3 draw in the opener of a two-game international friendly series in Tehran on Jan. 14. The crowd of 6,000 at the Azadi Sport Complex saw Italy jump out to a 3:0 lead early in the second half with tallies by midfielder Daverson Franzoi, defender Marcio Moratelli and forward Oliveira Morgado. Forward Vahid Shamsaee got Iran on the board with a goal in the 26th minute of the second half for a 3:1 score. After an Italian own goal that made it 3:2, the Iranians equalized as midfielder Kasem Mohammadi scored with nine minutes remaining in the match for the 3:3 draw. Both teams will face-off again in the second match of the series set for Jan. 15, at Tehran’s Azadi Sport Complex.

BRAZILIAN SILVIO SERGIO MACHADA TO COACH MALAYSIA IN 2003
Brazilian Silvio Sergio Machada will coach Malaysia’s Futsal National Team in three major competitions this year. In 2003, Malaysia will host the new Kuala Lumpur World Fives Tournament from June 3-6 at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The 12-team competition will replace the Singapore Tiger 5’s International Tournament. The next event for Machada’s squad will in July as they compete in the second Asean Championship in Cambodia. The third competition for Malaysia in 2003 is the fifth AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Futsal Championship in Japan from July 28 – August 4. Machada is expected to select his futsal training squad from the third national championships that will be held at the Putra Stadium from Mar. 3-7.

PROFESSIONAL ISRAELI FUTSAL LEAGUE BEGINS AFTER TWO-YEAR HIATUS
The Professional Israeli Futsal League (PIFL) began their campaign after a two-year hiatus on Jan. 6, with eight teams competing for the 2002-03 title. The PIFL opened with two-time champions Tel Aviv dropping a 7:6 decision to Beer Sheva on Jan. 6.
PIFL Champions
1998-99 Tel Aviv
1999-2000 Tel Aviv
2000-01 not played
2001-02 not played

EUROPE

FUTSAL PLANET.COM TO ANNOUNCE “2002 WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR”
The Futsal Planet website (www.futsalplanet.com) will announce the “2002 World Player of the Year” on February 1, 2003. For a third consecutive year, almost 100 Futsal experts (Coaches, Federation Presidents, Journalists, Press Officers, etc.) from all around the world will vote to pick the “Best Player of the World.” The voting process will feature 10 points for the first player on the ballot, while the second gets seven. The third pick will receive five points, while the fourth and fifth players will each get three and one point respectively. The “2001 Futsal Planet World Player of the Year” went to midfielder Manuel Tobias of Brazil with a total of 296 points. Forward Javi Rodriguez of Spain took second with 259 points, while Spanish midfielder Daniel Ibañes Caetano finished third in the voting ballot with 197 points. The first edition of the Futsal Planet World Player of the Year went to Manuel Tobias in 2000.

HOLLAND TIES BELGIUM
The Futsal National Team’s of Belgium and Holland battled to a 3:3 tie in an international friendly at the Sporthal Alverberg in Hasselt, Belgium on Jan. 14. Two goals by midfielder Moes Rebel and one by forward Marinho Letemahulu paced Holland in the encounter, while Belgium’s tallies were scored by forwards Tim DeWit, Rudi Plompen and midfielder Karim Bachar. Holland will now host a pair of friendlies against Portugal set for Jan. 27-28.

PORTUGAL TAKES TWO FROM HUNGARY
Portugal’s Futsal National Team swept a pair of friendlies over Hungary from Jan. 7-8. Two goals each by defender Ivan and midfielder Joel paced the host to a 5:2 victory over the visiting Hungarians in the opener at the Pavilhão Luís de Carvalho in Barreiro, Portugal on Jan. 7. Portugal completed the sweep the following day with a 5:3 win over Hungary at Pavilhão Alto do Moinho in Corroios. Ivan again scored twice for Portugal, while Joel, midfielders Zézito and João Marçal each added tallies in the victory. Portugal will travel to Holland and meet the host in a twin-bill slated for Jan. 27-28.

BELIGUM WINS FOUR NATIONS CUP IN FRANCE
Belgium’s Futsal National Team won the Four Nations Cup in Nîmes, France by topping the host in the finals 8:4 on Jan. 9. Midfielder Karim Bachar led Belgium with three goals, while forward Mustapha Aabbassi added two in the victory. In an earlier encounter, Russia posted a 4:2 win over Greece in the third-place consolation match. The competition began on Jan. 8, as France edged Greece in the semifinal opener 3:2, while in the nightcap Belgium defeated Russia 4:2 on penalty kicks after both teams battled to a 5:5 draw at the end of regulation.

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA

MILWAUKEE TO HOST 2003 MISL ALL-STAR GAME IN MARCH
The 2003 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) All-Star Weekend will take place in Milwaukee, Wis. from Mar. 7-9. The three-day event hosted by the MISL’s Milwaukee Wave will culminate with the 2003 MISL Legends and All-Star Games to played on Mar. 9, at the Bradley Center. During the event the 2003 MISL All-Stars and Legends will be introduced and Commissioner Steve Ryan will deliver his annual “State of the League” address. The Milwaukee Wave Greats will host the MISL Heroes in the second annual Legends Game, followed by the 2003 All-Star Game, which will feature the Western Conference vs. Eastern Conference format. For more information on the MISL check www.misl.net.

U.S. COACH TO GIVE SEMINAR AT 2003 NSCAA CONVENTION
United States Futsal National Team/Milwaukee Wave Head Coach Keith Tozer will be one of several U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri from Jan. 15-19. Tozer, who has a 12-7-3 overall record with the U.S. squad since 1996, will be giving a seminar called “Futsal - The Official Indoor Sport of FIFA” on Jan. 17-18, at the 2003 NSCAA. The annual convention features the largest number soccer coaches (Professional, Amateur, Youth, College, etc.) in the United States. For more information on the NSCAA convention check www.nscaa.com.

ROSS ONGARO APPOINTED CANADA’S NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH
The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) announced the appointment of former national team player Ross Ongaro to the position of Futsal National Team Head Coach on Jan. 14. The Edmonton Native has played with Canada’s Olympic and Youth Teams. Ongaro also played at the professional level in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) and the American Indoor Soccer League. His coaching experience began as a Player Assistant Coach with the CPSL’s Edmonton Brick Men from 1985-1987. From 1996-2000, Ongaro served as the head coach of the National Professional Soccer League’s Edmonton Drillers, where he earned two “Coach of the Year” honors. Over the next few months, Ongaro plans to scout Canadian players in the MISL, A-League, and the college ranks as well as across Canada, before holding the first futsal training camp in December 2003. Canada’s goal is to qualify to the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship at a site to be determined. The Maple Leafs participated in the inaugural FIFA Five-A-Side (now Futsal) World Championship in Holland 1989 finishing third in Group C first round play after defeating Japan (6:2), but losing to both Argentina (1:3) and Belgium (0:2).

FORMER AMERICAN FORWARD TO CONTINUE AT HELM WITH DALLAS BURN
The Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer (MLS) announced on Jan. 8, that Head Coach Mike Jeffries has signed a two-year contract with the team. Jeffries, who scored three goals in four games with the U.S. Five-A-Side (now Futsal) National Team in 1987, recently completed his second year at helm with the Burn in 2002. The Lynn, Massachusetts Native led the Burn to the MLS playoffs the last two years, while compiling a 22-20-12 regular season record.

CARLOS RUIZ NAMED “PERSON OF THE YEAR” IN GUATEMALA
Former Guatemalan Futsal Striker Carlos Ruiz was named “Person of the Year” by the newspaper Prensa Libre in his homeland on Jan. 6. Ruiz led the Los Angeles Galaxy of USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) to the 2002 title, while garnering Most Valuable Player honors in both the regular season and championship game. That, combined with his humanitarian work with “Ayudame a Vivir” (Help Me Live), a foundation that helps children with cancer, made him the logical choice for the award. Ruiz, who has played with Guatemala’s Men’s National Team and competed with the Futsal Team at the 2000 FIFA World Championship, was selected from a panel of 11 finalists, winning nearly 60 percent of the vote in a nationwide poll of Guatemalans.

USA FORWARD HAS SURGERY
U.S. Futsal National Team forward Steve Butcher underwent successful surgery at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio on Dec. 31, 2002 to repair a torn tendon in his little finger on his right hand. Butcher, who plays for the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), torn the tendon during a 17:6 loss to the Kansas City Comets on Dec. 29. The North Tonawanda, N.Y. Native, who will be out of MISL action for six weeks, has scored two goals in four international appearances for the USA in 2002.

SOUTH AMERICA

FERRETTI NAMES BRAZILIAN SQUAD FOR JAPAN SHOWDOWN
Brazil’s Futsal National Team Head Coach Fernando Ferretti named his squad on Jan. 14, that will host Japan in an international friendly at the Ginasio Poliesportivo in Sao Bernardo do Campo on Jan. 19. The Samba Kings, which posted an impressive 21-1-1 international record in 2002, will be looking to continue their 16-game winning streak when they meet the Japanese side for the first time since a 13:1 victory on Sept. 27, 1996 in Canberra, Australia. The last time Brazil lost an international futsal match was a 4:3 sudden-death road defeat to current FIFA World Champion Spain on Mar. 31, 2002 Torrejón de Ardoz.
Brazil’s Roster
Goalkeepers – Ângelo, Franklin, Lavoisier; Defenders – Ciço, Clemilton, Euler, Falcão; Midfielders – Ari, Fininho, Igor, Manoel Tobias, Marcel, Neto, Pablo, Saad; Forwards – Betão, Leitão
Coach – Fernando Ferretti

Information was researched and compiled by Steven Torres.

SPECIAL NOTE - This issue is dedicated to an old friend of mine, Eric Kloiber, who unfortunately passed away in his sleep on the evening of January 13, 2003 at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. Kloiber, who was only 35 years old, was a good friend and a great supporter for the U.S. Soccer National Team (Men's, Women's, Youth and Futsal). My prayers are with his family and he will truly be missed.

Next issue will be sent on January 29, 2003