Courtesy: The AFC.com


Spanish futsal expert’s mantra for success

Thursday, 04 February 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Spain futsal coach José Venancio López has urged Asian nations to merge futsal and football in training.

Speaking on the sidelines of the AFC Elite Futsal Coaching Instructors Course, López said both the versions of the game were inseparable and teams like Spain and Brazil had already implemented this practice.

“It is very common to combine futsal and football training in South American and European countries.

“For me, both are closely connected and inseparable because futsal players can improve their fitness through football while football players also can enhance their skills from futsal," he told www.the-afc.com.

"Asian countries should emulate this concept. It is a winning method."

López said foundation play a big part in his team’s success and a systematic youth and development work was very much needed if Asian teams wanted to succeed in this sport.

"A majority of Spanish play futsal. In fact, most of our footballers started their career playing futsal. This is the reason why Spanish players have very good individual skills."

López took Spain to their third straight UEFA Futsal Championship title with a 4-2 defeat of Portugal in Debrecen last month. The Spaniards have not lost a futsal match since December 2005. And, in the last 51 matches since López took charge in 2007, they have won 46 and drawn five games.

Spain also won the FIFA Futsal World Cup twice and the European championship on five occasions.


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