Courtesy: Welsh FA


Gary Speed endorses Futsal at the Launch of the FAW Futsal Cup

10 May 2011

Wales Team Manager Gary Speed was at the Vale Hotel near Cardiff this afternoon to endorse the inaugural FAW Futsal Cup. The Competition, which has 28 entries, kicks-off on Sunday 22nd May with a Northern Conference in Bangor and a Southern Conference in Cardiff.

The four Conference Group Winners, 8 in total, will progress to the National Finals in Cardiff on Sunday 5th June 2011 for a share of the £4,250 prize money and more significantly, the prestige of becoming the first Futsal team to represent Wales in UEFA club competition towards the end of the year.

Following a presentation on Futsal from the Welsh Football Trust’s Futsal Officer Richard Gunney, the Wales Team Manager highlighted the fact that Futsal is excellent for close ball control and decision-making in small spaces under pressure.

“If you look at players like Xavi and Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain) they are excellent at these skills and these can really be developed by playing Futsal, which is great for our youngster’s development.”

Spain are the current European Champions at eleven-a-side and Futsal and Speed also highlighted the love for the game in Brazil and Argentina, two other countries which also produce highly skilled players.

FAW Head of Competitions Andrew Howard explained the format for the competition and added; “It will be an opportunity for the regular five-a-side players to get one over on the traditional eleven-a-side teams, as we have a mixture entered.”

One of the Futsal teams to have entered are Cardiff Cymru who play in the FA Midland Futsal League and they will face Welsh Cup Winners Llanelli in the opening game of the southern competition. Another interesting group sees a Varsity Battle as Cardiff and Swansea Universities will go head-to-head.


SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Group 1: AFC Llwydcoed, Port Talbot Town, Rhayader Town, Merthyr Town
Group 2: Llanelli AFC, Cardiff Cymru, Valencia CF Legends, Coleg Sir Gar
Group 3: Swansea Uni, East Gwent Exiles, Cardiff University
Group 4: Brecon Town, CSKA Talybont, Pontardawe Town


NORTHERN CONFERENCE

Group 1: GAP Connahs Quay, Aberystwyth Town, Wrexham Lager, Newtown AFC
Group 2: Penmaenmawr Phoenix, Rhyl FC, Flint Mountain, Llangollen Town
Group 3: Llandudno Town, Wrexham Futsal, Airbus UK Broughton
Group 4: The New Saints, Cefn Druids FC, Bangor University


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