“fa sempre piacere esserci in questo sport ed io ho avuto la fortuna di iniziarlo e poi seguirlo nel tempo fino ad oggi". Alfonso Velez, end of August 2011.

This is definitely a black and sad day for italian futsal. One of the real pioneers of our sport in Italy, Alfonso Velez, is gone. A long time disease gave no chance to Alfonso, who passed away this morning, aged 69.

Maybe you don't know or remember this name, but that's just cause he was really far from the idea to take the "center stage". But the truth is that Alfonso Velez has been an absolute icon of italian futsal, since its beginning.

29 glorious years of futsal, unforgettable seasons in Bologna (Harvey Club, Saiet, Teraxitalia.. the free-kicks by Dirceu, that's futsal history guys!)

Alfonso is a huge piece of the italian futsal history, he will be missed.

Futsalplanet.com staff is close to the Alfonso Velez family in this hard moment. May you rest in peace, friend!