Courtesy: The FA.com


Champions fight for fifth title

by Matt Hardy

Wednesday, 09 May, 2012

Helvecia and Genesis both confident of success at The FA Futsal League Grand Finals.


The FA National Futsal League
The Grand Finals
12-13 May 2012
Sporthouse, Barking

Ahead of this weekend's FA National Futsal League Grand Finals in Barking, we look at the two contenders from the Southern League...

Helvecia

Domination is a big word in sport. In the early years of The FA National Futsal League, Helvecia have dominated all that has come before them and ahead of the 2012 Grand Finals in Barking this weekend, the four time champions are many people’s favourites once again.

Overcoming the stiff challenge from Genesis to lift the Southern League crown once more, Helvecia will come into the Sporthouse this weekend fully confident that they can again reign supreme in English Futsal once more.

This season’s Grand Finals line up is widely recognised as the most competitive ever. It is hard to call the victors of any of the six group fixtures but despite this, Helvecia remain the team that everyone feels they need to beat.

Their squad is littered with champions and experience of winning these events. They know what is required of them and they will be 100 per cent focused on ensuring that they produce just that. Failure is not a word in the vocabulary of the Helvecia squad.

Ronaldo Negrao has strengthened this season, obviously conscious that his ageing squad will not go on forever. England international Ben Mortlock has become a key member of their unit after moving south from Sheffield, whilst his international team-mates, goalkeeper James Dalton and young star Sam Murphy have helped add strength to the champion’s squad.

Raoni Medina remained their top scorer and Ronaldo will know as well as everyone else does, just how important the Portuguese hotshot’s goals are. Helvecia’s strength lies in their defensive systems, as well as their undoubted ability to make every attack count. They will be confident in their own abilities and as long as they perform, you have to feel they will be in contention once the final two head out onto the Sporthouse court on Sunday.

This is not a team that likes defeat. This is not a team that accepts finishing second. This is Helvecia. These players are Champions?


Genesis Futsal Club

In sport, you often hear the whispers that certain teams were built to be champions, born to be winners, designed to succeed. That statement could relate to any club or individual but in The FA National Futsal League, it has never been more fitting than when used to describe Genesis.

Building a squad to compete with Helvecia in the Southern League is never easy. It requires patience, determination and talent. Above all else though, reaching the top requires a desire to be the best.

Jorge Ribeiro and Trevor Tamatave began working on a squad last summer that had all of those ingredients. From the moment they stepped foot onto the court to begin preparation for the 2011-12 season, their sole intent and purpose was to be champions and, after narrowly missing out on Helvecia’s Southern League crown, they enter Barking this weekend focused on taking home the National title.

“We have been planning for the Grand Finals since August last year,” said Tamatave.

“Our objective since the start of the season has been to qualify for these Finals and now we have, it is our objective to look to win them.”

Genesis pushed their great rivals all the way in the regular league season, eventually losing out after a disappointing final day defeat to an ever improving West London side. They have the belief and desire to be victorious, coupled with a talented squad including the infamous Bruno Vitorino and former England squad member Byron Andrew. If Genesis are playing well they could very well be victorious at the Sporthouse.

“It is very important for Genesis to put in a good showing at the Grand Finals,” continued Tamatave.

“We believe the six teams competing this season are the finest in the land and anyone can win The Final.

“Helvecia are still the team to beat and many people’s favourites but if we play to our best we have an excellent chance of beating our opponents and winning the Grand Finals.”

Tamatave is keen to build on an impressive season for a new look Genesis. A number of new faces arrived at the club, who recently moved to a new home, The University of East London. They have the ground work in place to be a leading club in England for years to come and they will be hoping they can show that potential when they step onto the Sporthouse court.

“The Grand Finals is the opportunity for all of the teams to be the National champions.

“With the best players on show I would expect some thrilling games. It should be a great spectacle for English Futsal.

“Futsal is going in the right direction in England.

“Progress is being made and the standard is improving. Hopefully we can prove this weekend that the competition is becoming greater and much fiercer.

“Genesis are here and Genesis are ready. We are ready to fight. We are ready to win.”




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