Courtesy: Thurrock Gazette


Brentwood Centre to host futsal nights

Tuesday 8th February 2011

FUTSAL: A TASTE of latin America has arrived in south Essex with the launch of a new Futsal indoor football league.

Teams are being sought to take part in the competition, which is being held on Wednesday nights at the Brentwood Centre, in Doddinghurst Road.

Essex FA officer Nick Emery said it is growing in popularity across the county, adding: “It can be difficult to engage people in something new, but we’ve found that most who have tried Futsal really enjoy it and can see the benefits it brings to their game.”

Futsal is popular in south America and played between teams of five, using hockey-sized goals and a ball with reduced bounce. One man who knows all about the game is Canvey Island striker, Hussain Isa, who played in the Gulls’ weekend win over Hendon in the Ryman Premier league.

He was part of the England team who flew out to Macedonia last month to take part in a qualifying tournament for the UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 Championship.

England lost against Macedonia and Georgia, then beat Estonia, but it wasn’t enough to qualify for the tournament, which will be held in Croatia in February next year.

Isa, who was spotted by an England scout while playing for a workmate’s Futsal team, said: “It is very physically demanding, you can’t play more than five or six minutes at international level.

“But it has improved my sharpness, close ball control and technique, and I would encourage anyone who likes playing football to give it a go.”

Teams who want to enter the Brentwood league need a squad of at least seven players, all over the age of 16.

It costs £25 per team on a weekly basis. Experienced Futsal players and newcomers are welcome.

For more information call Matt Street at 6-a-Side.co.uk on 07917 134798.


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