Courtesy: This is Gloucester


It's crunch time for futsal's finest in Gloucester

Thursday, April 26, 2012

THE Revolution will be complete if Gloucester City's futsal players can claim victory on home ground this weekend.

The Gloucester Futsal Revolution attack the final round of the National League Two South on home ground at GL1 on Sunday with glory in their sights.

With just four of the 20 League fixtures remaining Gloucester Futsal Revolution are four points behind league leaders Kaunas in the league table.

For Jim Hart, the general manager of the Gloucester Futsal Revolution, Sunday marks the culmination of five years of work.

Hart, who now works for Prospect Training Services, was part of the Onside initiative tasked with taking sport into the wider Gloucester community.

Since then, and after gaining support from Prospect, the University of Gloucestershire and Gloucester City Football Club, the project has spiralled.

And now the team may be just one game away from claiming glory on a national level.

"It's really exciting to have the final round of fixtures on home ground and to be in with a chance of winning," Hart said.

"We've been travelling all around the country this year and now we have the chance to finish the season at home.

"It's tight at the top of the table with us and a team called FC Kaunas – a team of Lithuanian dock workers from London.

"Hopefully if we can have a good day on Sunday then we can take the title."

Futsal, literally translated as hall football, is played by teams of five on an indoor court with a smaller, heavier ball.

As such the reliance is on individual skill, control and technique – something far removed from typical 11-a-side English games.

The game is credited with creating many of the stunning football talents to come out of Brazil, where it is universally played by children.

"The common mistake is people think that Brazilians learn the game of football on the beach," Hart said.

"That isn't true, they learn on a hard court. playing futsal.

"It's the only game they play until they are 12 to 13 and I'm sure it's the reason they produce so many technically gifted players."

While futsal is still something of a minority sport in England, it has a growing reputation.

Current Bishop's Cleeve manager Alex Sykes has played internationally for England, while current Gloucester City winger Steve Davies is an England Universities international.

"Steve said something to me the other day about the differences between football and futsal," Hart said.

"He's played both sports at a really good level but said futsal is much, much more difficult.

"In futsal there is no hiding place. You have to be involved and your control has to be spot on – that's not always the case in an 11-a-side game.

The final round of the season in Division Two South of the English Futsal League kicks off at GL1 in Gloucester on Sunday at 10am with matches through until 4pm. Entrance is free of charge.




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