Courtesy: Sport 360°


The lowdown on futsal in the UAE

Friday, 08 October 2010

Futsal, or indoor football, is taking the world by storm. It’s fast, furious and played over 20 minutes. And as it is indoors and out of extreme temperatures there’s a growing interest in the sport here in the UAE.

Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is naturally the goalkeeper.

Unlimited substitutes per team are permitted so everyone gets a game. It is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regular football and because the pitches are surrounded by boards and netting it is always in play.

Brazil has won the world championship in this form of the game four times and 20 teams took part in the 2008 tournament.

Since it is a lot shorter in duration many office workers play a game or two before going home. The emphasis is on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

There are many companies helping to boost the growth of sport, and people’s general fitness, in the country and Stadia5 is one of them. They are a sports consultancy and a management group established in Dubai in 2006.

Ever since their launch, Stadia5 has been hosting and conducting indoor events for juniors and adults.

According to them Futsal has a tremendous growth potential in the UAE. Studies have shown that it has already become a vital cog for the development of quality players.

With this in mind Stadia5 launched their inaugural Junior Futsal League in Soccer Circus (Midriff City Centre), Dubai, this month. Their adult Futsal League, which has been going on for the past three years, has also resumed.

Stadia5 has also signed partnership contracts with many European leaders in the field of football including SSC Andy Koepke’s German Goalkeeping Academy and SSC Zurich. They will soon be opening their first International Goalkeepers Academy here.

This academy will help train goalkeepers and amateurs from all around the world and locally to reach professional levels.

Zurich has decided that, in association with Stadia5, it is more feasible for both companies to bring keepers for training in the UAE rather to Zurich or Germany.

One of the reasons is that the UAE has much to offer, from well-built stadia to hotels and that is important to organisers and players.

Stadia5 are trying to encourage everyone to take part and enjoy the fitness and social benefits, and most of all to enjoy the game.

Junior Futsal League at Midriff City Centre.

Tel: 04-4470711. www.stadia5.com


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