Courtesy: Sowetan Live


Games hone Futsal team

11-apr-2012

by Ramatsiyi Moholoa

THE South African indoor soccer team have lined up two international friendlies against Mozambique to prepare for the 2012 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

The South African Football Association's head of communications, Dominic Chimhavi, said the two matches will be played in Mozambique on Saturday and Sunday.

"The squad has been in camp since last week in Mpumalanga. The two matches will also be used to prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers later this year," Chimhavi said yesterday.

Guided by Quinton Allies, South Africa played against Mozambique in two international friendly matches last year, losing both encounters.

"Going into the friendly matches against Mozambique, I am hoping to identify key players for the national squad as we prepare to take part in the World Cup qualifiers later this year," Allies said.

"Mozambique are a lot more advanced in Futsal (indoor soccer) and they are sitting at a higher world ranking than us."

The coach is hoping to create a bigger pool of players for the national team through the expansion of the game of indoor soccer around the country.

"The training of Futsal coaches and referees that we recently underwent in Johannesburg with Fifa instructors will surely put us in a better position than we were the last time we played a match.

"We have the resources in this country and with the work and cooperation of the Futsal coaches and referees we can achieve the goal of growing this game in SA and compete against the top nations in the world."

The 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup will take place in Thailand from November 1 to 18.




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