Courtesy: UEFA.com


Nidaros break new ground for Norway

Friday 14 August 2009

by Eivind Aarre from Stavanger

Trondheim has become closely associated with European competition thanks to the UEFA Champions League exploits of Rosenborg BK. On Monday a new name from the city will be added to that roll of honour when Nidaros Futsal become the first Norwegian club to play in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Maiden title
A 4-2 win against KFUM-Kam. Oslo in Bergen on 15 February ensured Nidaros – formed in 2004 – ended the maiden Futsal Eliteserien season on top and claimed the opportunity to become the first team to represent Norway in any international competition in the small-sided sport. They kick off their Preliminary round Group B campaign in Cyprus on Monday against Slovakian champions RCS Košice before taking on hosts AC Omonia and FC Seefeld Zürich, and they are glad six months of waiting are almost over.

Long wait
"We've looked forward to this for a long time, and we started the countdown a long time ago," player-coach Truls Skaar Helland said. "We hope to write a new chapter in our glorious history book. We have won all there is to win in Norway. We look forward to finding out what Europe has in store for us."

Opening test
Košice will form tough opening opposition, having last season ended the five-year Slovakian reign of Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava, who reached the third-stage UEFA Futsal Cup Elite round in both 2007/08 and 2008/09. "Košice ooze quality so our first match will be a real test," defender Anders Austeng said.

Nordtun arrival
To strengthen for their European bid, Trondheim have signed former Norwegian youth international football goalkeeper Magnar Nordtun, who was on the bench when Viking FK knocked Chelsea FC out of the 2002/03 UEFA Cup. "I was flattered when I got the call from Nidaros, since they are Norway's best side," he said. "I hope we give a good account of ourselves. I have tasted success with the national side, and am looking for more joy on the international stage."







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