Courtesy: Times of Zambia


Futsal Team Coach Confident Of World Cup Qualification

ZAMBIA Futsal team coach Adriano Marsili is confident that his team will qualify for the 2012 Thailand FIFA Futsal World Cup competition after beating a highly ranked Mozambique side 3-1 in the first round, first leg encounter in Maputo over the weekend.
Marsili said during a media briefing at Football House in Lusaka yesterday that the team has greatly improved in the past four years when the game was started and was hopeful that Zambia has built a strong squad to compete against the best to secure qualification.
He expected a tough return leg against the Mozambicans on May 19 and warned the players against complacency as the Mozambicans would come with the aim of winning the match.

“The team has improved a lot in these past years, but more work still awaits the team. But I am confident we can qualify for the World Cup as long as we work hard,” he said.
Michello Kabwe scored a brace while William Phiri registered one goal.
Zambia will face the winners of either Sierra Leone or Morocco for a place at the World Cup finals that kicks off on November 2 to 18.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Futsal sub-committee vice-chairperson Mauro Sanwa, who doubled as assistant coach, showered praise on the team for beating Mozambique and urged them to remain focused.
Sanwa said he was happy that the four-year developmental programme that was put in place has started bearing fruit adding that it was impressing to see a young Zambian team comprising of under 20 players playing well.
He said Futsal has become a popular sport in the world considering that it is second from the 11-aside football game saying that is why countries like Brazil have continued to use Futsal to identify players because the game is mainly played among school children.
“I am happy that our boys were able to beat a Mozambican side that beat us 9-2 four years ago and this is a sign that our game has improved greatly. We have also produced players like Chisamba Lungu who has been taken on by Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard and we also had the late Bernard Bwalya.
Futsal greatly helps players master the tactics of getting used to the ball and that is why Brazil has managed to produce great players because the sport is played in schools and it was through that system that the likes of Kaka and Ronaldo among others were identified,” he said.
Delegation leader Julio Chiluba, who is also FAZ head of administration and competitions, commended the team for putting up a splendid performance that saw the team carry a comfortable lead going into the return leg.




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