Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News
March 12, 2003

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

FIFA

FIFA ANNOUNCES CHINESE TAIPEI AS HOST FOR 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
During the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) Executive Meetings on March 7, in Zurich, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei was announced as the host for the 2004 Futsal World Championship. This will be the first time since Hong Kong 1992, that the FIFA tournament is held in Asia. The exact dates for the 16-team event are yet to be finalized, although FIFA has stated that the prestigious Futsal competition will take place towards the end of the year as it has been done in previous tournaments. A record seven national associations expressed an interest in hosting the fifth edition of the FIFA competition, as the resounding success of Guatemala 2000 prompted Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Paraguay, Thailand along with Chinese Taipei to bid for the event. Holland 1989, Hong Kong 1992, Spain 1996 and Guatemala 2000 are the four FIFA Futsal World Championships to have been held to date.

FIFA ALLOCATES CONFEDERATION BERTHS FOR FIFTH FUTSAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
With the announcement of Fifth Futsal World Championship slated for Chinese Taipei in late 2004, FIFA allocated the remaining 15 tournament berths to the six confederations. As done in previous tournaments, each confederation will have a respective qualifying competition for the teams to advance to the 2004 FIFA event. Three nations along with the host Chinese Taipei will come from Asia, while Africa and Oceania will each have one representative. Three teams will be from South America (CONMEBOL), while the CONCACAF region gets two spots. Rounding out the 2004 qualifying berths are five from UEFA.

2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship, 16 Berths
Chinese Taipei, (1) Host
Confederation, WC Berths, Qualifying Fixtures
Africa, (1) One, TBD
Asia, (3) Three, TBD
CONMEBOL, (3) Three, May 19 - June 10, 2003 in Paraguay
CONCACAF, (2) Two, Completed by June 30, 2004 in Guatemala
Oceania, (1) One, September 2003 in Australia
UEFA, (5) Five, TBD

EUROPE

2002-03 UEFA FUTSAL CUP SECOND ROUND GROUP MATCHES TO TAKE PLACE IN BELGIUM, ITALY
Belgium and Italy will host the second round group matches for the 2002-03 UEFA Futsal Cup that will run from Mar. 18-24, 2003. Charleroi, Belgium will host Group A, from Mar. 18-21, that includes Antena Boomerang (Spain), MNK Split (Croatia) and Norilsky Nickel (Russia) joining last year?s UEFA Futsal Cup runners-up Action 21 Charleroi (Belgium). Prato, Italy is the venue for Group B from Mar. 21-24, that is composed of FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), KMF Nis (Yugoslavia), Prato C/5 (Italy) and the defending champion Playas de Castellón (Spain). Each group winner will advance to a two-game final, with the first one taking place between Apr. 14-20 and the second from Apr. 28 ? May 4.

2002-03 UEFA Futsal Cup Second Round Groups
Mar. 18-24, 2003

Group A (Charleroi, Belgium)
Action 21 Charleroi (BEL)
Norilsky Nickel (RUS)
Antena Boomerang (ESP)
MNK Split (CRO)

Group B (Prato, Italy)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Prato C/5 (ITA)
Playas de Castellón (ESP)
KMF Nis (YUG)

UEFA OFFICIALS NAMED FOR 2002-03 FUTSAL CUP
UEFA named eight referees that will officiate the second round group matches for the 2002-03 Futsal Cup from Mar. 18-24. Evzen Amler (Czech Republic), Silvo Borosak (Slovenia), Ercole Vescio (Italy) and Tomasz Wolak (Poland) will officiate the Group A matches in Charleroi, Belgium from Mar. 18-21, while Group B will have Christian Hauben (Belgium), Alexandr Remin (Belarus), Edi Sunjic (Croatia), Antonius Van Eekelen (Holland) officiating in Prato, Italy from Mar. 21-24.

ROMANIA CROWNS FIRST FUTSAL CHAMPION
AS Odorheiu Secuiesc was crowned the first Romanian Futsal Champion for the 2002-03 season after defeating Inter Tg. Mures 2:1 in the finals of the 12-team tournament on Feb. 27. After surviving the six-team first round group, AS Odorheiu Secuiesc advanced to the 2002-03 championship match with a 4:2 semifinal victory over Penitenciarul Iasi on Feb. 26. AS Odorheiu Secuiesc will now represent Romania in the qualifying round for the 2003-04 UEFA Futsal Cup.

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA

18TH ANNUAL U.S. FUTSAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TAKE PLACE IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
The 2003 U.S. Futsal Federation National Championships will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California from July 18-20. The 18th annual event will have male and female futsal clubs from around the country competing in various age groups (Under-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-19, Open Category). For more information on the 2003 U.S. Futsal National Championships check www.futsal.com.

MEXICO TRAVELS TO COSTA RICA FOR PAIR OF FRIENDLIES
Mexico?s Futsal National Team will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica to face the host in a pair of international friendlies at the Gimnasio Villa Deportiva Desamparados from Apr. 4-5. Both teams are in preparations for next year's CONCACAF Futsal qualifier in Guatemala that will advance two teams to the 2004 FIFA World Championships in Chinese Taipei. Both squads had previously met in the semifinals of 2000 CONCACAF tournament with the Ticos posting a hard-fought 3:2 victory on July 27, 2000. Costa Rica went on to capture the confederation's title and one of the two berths (other to Cuba) to the 2000 world championships, while Mexico settled for fourth-place after losing in the bronze medal game to the USA 5:1. Recently, the CONCACAF rivals squared off last year, as Costa Rica went winless in a two-game series against Mexico at the Gimnasio Fishbein in Mexico City from Dec. 6-7, 2002. Goals by midfielder Victor Hugo Huerta, Leonardo Morales Figueroa and defender Carlos Ramirez Guerrero paced Mexico to a 3:1 victory over the Costa Rica in the opener on Dec. 6. The next day, both teams played to a 2:2 draw as Ramirez Guerrero and forward Francisco Ramirez Castaneda scored for the Tri-Colores, while forwards Junior Rodriguez and Randolf Sanchez each notched a tally for the Ticos.

Costa Rica Roster (Club)
Goalkeepers: Javier Alfaro (Desamparados), Héctor Fonseca (Universidad Nacional), José Luis Garro (Juventud Olímpica /Barrio Peralta), Randall Salas (Desamparados)
Defenders: Erick Arce (Desamparados), Ricardo Juárez (Desamparados F.S.), José Picado (Trinidad de Moravia Mega Super F.S.), Jhonny Rodríguez (Juventud Olímpica Sportek)
Midfielders: Jasón Arce (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Michael Barrantes (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Freddy Espinoza (Desamparados), Marvin Marín (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Esteban Naranjo (Desamparados), Randolph Sánchez (Desamparados), Henry Valverde (Desamparados)
Forwards: Carlos Chávez (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Yanán Montoya (Desamparados), Junior Rodríguez (Desamparados)
Coach: Carlos Quirós Álvarez

Mexico Roster (Club)
Goalkeepers: Amado Pablo Torres Bueno (Edo Mexico), José Manuel García Delgado (Soles GAM)
Defenders: Miguel Ángel Sánchez Duarte, Mario Alberto Vertí García (Edo. Mexico), Carlos Alberto Ramírez Guerrero, José Carlos Hernández Vargas
Midfielders: Arturo López Cervantes, Mario Domínguez García, Roberto Soto Salamanca, Miguel Ángel Olvera Sánchez
Forwards: Francisco Ramírez Castañeda (Delta GAM), Héctor Guzmán Sepúlveda (C.D.I.), Víctor Hugo Huerta (Delta GAM)
Coach: Jesús Bravo Reyna

DELEVSKI'S HAT-TRICK PACES WEST SQUAD OVER EAST IN 2003 MISL ALL-STAR GAME
A crowd of 8,429 at Milwaukee?s (Wis.) Bradley Center watched forward Dino Delevski notch a hat-trick to pace the Western Conference team to a 20:13 victory over the East at the 2003 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) All-Star game on Mar. 9. The Kansas City Comets striker scored his third goal and the eventual game-winner with 1:59 remaining for the West as the 26-year-old earned MISL All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. Prior to the 2003 all-star match, the MISL Legend?s Team topped the Milwaukee Wave Legend?s squad 4:3 on Mar. 9. MISL Legend?s goalkeeper Jamie Swanner was named the game?s MVP as he made several key saves late in the match for the victory. Swanner, who help lead the Canton Invaders to five championships in the National Professional Soccer League (1984-86, 1987-90), was a member of the first U.S. Five-A-Side (now Futsal) in 1986.

U.S. FUTSAL PLAYERS SHINE IN MISL ALL-STAR MATCH
Several current U.S. Futsal National Team players shined during the 2003 MISL All-Star game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis. on Mar. 9. The Western Conference, with Milwaukee Wave/U.S. Futsal National Team?s Keith Tozer as head coach, were led by forward Todd Dusosky (1 goal, 5 caps) with two goals, while Nino DaSilva (0 caps) had a goal and an assist. Forward Joe Reiniger (0 caps) dished out an assist, while veteran goalkeeper Victor Nogueira (16 caps) made 13 saves in the first half for the West?s 20:13 victory. The Eastern squad, with former U.S. defender Andy Schmetzer (2 goals, 9 caps) at helm, were paced by defenders John Ball (6 caps) and Pat Morris
(2 goals, 2 caps) each with a tally.

STRATHROY BENFICA TAKES 2003 ONTARIO FUTSAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Strathroy Benfica defeated ST. Thomas Strikers 5:4 to win the 2003 Ontario Futsal Club Championship at Conesta College in Ontario, Canada on Mar. 9. Strathroy Benfica now advances along with the 2003 Quebec Futsal Champion FC Trois-Rivières to the annual Canadian Futsal Clubs Championships on Mar. 16, in Waterloo, Ontario.

MISL ADDS TWO MORE TEAMS FOR 2003-04 SEASON
The MISL announced on Mar. 7, that the St. Louis Steamers of the defunct World Indoor Soccer League, will join the MISL for the 2003-04 campaign. Along with the Steamers, the MISL also approved the application of Laredo, Texas for next season. Laredo, which is the second fastest growing city in the U.S., is on the Rio Grande River across from Mexico and is known as "The Gateway to Mexico." The MISL currently has eight teams in the USA: Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks, Harrisburg Heat, Kansas City Comets, Milwaukee Wave, Philadelphia Kixx, San Diego Sockers.

LILAVOIS SIGNS WITH CLEVELAND FORCE
The MISL Cleveland Force announced the signing of former Harrisburg Heat forward Bernie Lilavois on Feb. 25, as the policy terms of the contract were not disclosed. The 33-year-old forward was acquired in a trade from the Harrisburg Heat on Sept. 27, along with defender Eric Kvello and midfielder Steve Klein for the rights to Beau Brown. Lilavois, who has four goals in seven international appearances with the U.S. Futsal National Team, is an eight-year indoor soccer veteran. In addition to his indoor career, Lilavois played a season each with the Charleston Battery and the Connecticut Wolves of the
A-League.

QCSL ALL-STARS WIN THREE IN-A-ROW OVER AISL TEAMS
An All-Star Team from the QCSL Indoor World Cup Soccer League in Laval Quebec, Canada won three straight matches against squads from the American Indoor Soccer League (AISL) from Feb. 23 ? Mar. 2. The QCSL team, who are composed of Canadians as well as international players, opened with a 6:4 victory over the Massachusetts Aztecs on Feb. 23, in Montreal. The QCSL squad hit the road and topped the Massachusetts Twisters by the same score of 6:4 on Mar. 1. The Canadian All-Stars won their third straight game after posting a 4:1 victory over the host Aztecs on Mar. 2. For more information on the QCSL Indoor World Cup Soccer League check www.qcslworldcup.com.

OCEANIA

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN?S FUTSAL TEAM BEGIN TRAINING
The Australian Women?s Futsal National Team, under head coach Richard Littler, begins their first training camp in Sydney from Mar. 15-16. Littler has named 19 players for this camp and will cut the roster to 10 for the squads next international event in Sardinia, Italy in June.

Australian Women's Player Pool (Futsal Association)
Jade Banks (Queensland), Jill Crocker (ACT), Racquel DeConte (Victoria), Chrystal Dean (NSW), Emma Kate Dewhurst (NSW), Gemma Etherington (Victoria), Zoe Gamble (NSW), Jodie Hammond (Queensland), Katie Maryvale (NSW), Gill McMaster (Queensland), Leanne Mills (ACT), Dimitri Poulos (NSW), Amanda Riley (ACT), Samantha Riley (ACT), Taryn Riley (ACT), Belinda Sears (NSW), Maria Triantafilou (ACT), Jenny Wallis (Queensland), Joanne Williams (NSW)
Coach: Richard Littler

SOUTH AMERICA

PERU TO STAGE COPA LINCE 2003
The Peruana Fútbol Federación?s National Commission of Futsal will stage the first metropolitan competition called "Copa Lince 2003" that will take place in Lima?s borough of Lince from Mar. 14 ? May 24. The event will be held Parque Mariscal Castilla in Lince with the following men?s and women's categories: Under-20, Open division and Over-35. For more information check the Federación Peruana de Fútbol website at www.fpf.com.pe.

BEACH SOCCER

FIFTH EUROPEAN PRO BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR BELGIUM IN APRIL
The fifth European Pro Beach Soccer Championships set for Belgium from Apr. 17-20. Six European nations (Austria, France, Germany, taly, Spain, Switzerland) will join the host and the defending champion Portugal in the 2003 event. In the 2002 tournament held in Barcelona, Spain, Portugal defeated the host 2:1 in the finals on Feb. 17. For more information check www.beachsoccer.com.