Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News
January 23, 2002

News and information on Futsal/Indoor Soccer from around the world


EUROPE

TWELVE OFFICIALS NAMED TO 2002 UEFA FUTSAL CUP
On Jan. 17, UEFA named 12 referees that will officiate
at the upcoming 2002 Futsal Cup in Lisbon, Portugal
from Feb. 25 - Mar. 3. Of the 12 only three have
officiated at the 2000 FIFA World Championships in
Guatemala (Perry Gautier-Belgium, Ivan Novak-Czech
Republic, and Pedro Galan Nieto-Spain). The eight-European
club tournament features the host Sporting Club de
Portugal as the number one seed in Group A, that
includes MNK 1700 Split of Croatia, AS Roma of Italy
and MNK Kaskada Gracanica of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Playas de Castellón (Spain) has the top seed in Group
B, which is composed of Action 21 Charleroi (Belgium),
CSÖ-Montage Budapest FC (Hungary) and Clearex-Chorzòw
(Poland). The top two of each group will advance to
the semifinals on Mar. 2, with the semifinal survivors
meeting in the championship finale the following day
(Mar. 3).

2002 UEFA Futsal Cup Officials - Lisbon, Portugal
Mourad Mammado - Azerbaijan
Perry Gautier - Belgium
Ivan Novak - Croatia
Tommi Silanne - Finland
Cleomentis Bontiotis - Greece
Antonius Van Eekelan - Holland
Karoly Torok - Hungary
Massimo Cumbo - Italy
Zblgniew Kosmala - Poland
António Cardoso - Portugal
Anton Averianov - Russia
Pedro Galan Nieto - Spain

SPAIN, RUSSIA U-21'S BATTLE TO TWO STRAIGHT DRAWS
Spain's Under-21 Futsal National Team hosted Russia's
U-21 to two consecutive draws on Jan. 21-22. Spain
tied Russia 3-3 in the first international friendly at
the Leganes Arena in Madrid on Jan. 21. Both teams
played to another draw (2-2) the following day at
the Boadilla del Monte in Madrid.

FINLAND CROWNS FIRST-EVER CHAMPION
F.T. Kemi-Tornio Husky was crowned the first-ever
Finnish Futsal Champions (2001-02) after defeating
Sorsapuiston Ilves in the finals 2-1 on Jan. 20, at
the Spiral Arena in Tampere, Finland. Earlier in the
day, F.T. Kemi earned a berth to the championship
finals by topping Ruutupaidat in the semis 9-1. F.T.
Kemi earned a berth to the semifinals after finishing
first in group play the day before (Jan. 19) after
defeating Honka 3-2 and then playing TPK to a 2-2 draw.

CROATIA GOES WINLESS AGAINST BOSNIA, FK VRATNIK WINS
"ASIM FERHATOVIS - HASA 2002" TOURNEY
Croatia's Futsal National Team went winless in a two-
game international friendly series against the host
Bosnia-Herzegovina at the KSC Skenderija Hall in
Sarajevo from Jan. 18-19. Bosnia stunned Croatia in
the first game 2-1 on Jan. 18, and then both squads
played to a 1-1 tie in the second match the next day
(Jan. 19). Also on Jan. 19, FK Vratnik of
Bosnia-Herzegovina topped Selection of Vojvodina of
Yugoslavia 5-3 in the championship finale of the
"Asim Ferhatovis - Hasa 2002" international tournament.

IRELAND TO STAGE FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Ireland's first-ever Invitational Futsal Tournament
will take place at St. Columbia College in Dublin on
Feb. 9. This one-day event will feature six teams
divided into two groups of three. Group A will be
composed of the Futsal National Teams' of Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Ireland "A," while Group B has
Belgium club Dynamic Houthalen, Birkenhead club
Tranmere Victoria and Ireland "B." For more information
check Futsal Ireland's website at www.futsalireland.com.

Ireland's International Futsal Tournament 2002
Group A
Ireland-A
Northern Ireland
Scotland

Group B
Ireland-B
Tranmere Victoria
Dynamic Houthalen

Feb. 9 (Local Time Kickoff)
Ireland-A vs. Scotland 1 p.m.
Ireland-B vs. Tranmere Victoria 1:40 p.m.
Ireland-A vs. Northern Ireland 2:20 p.m.
Ireland-B vs. Dynamic Houthalen 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Northern Ireland 3:40 p.m.
Dynamic Houthalen vs. Tranmere Victoria 4:20 p.m.

Semi-final - Winners A v Runners-up B 5 p.m.
Semi-final - Winner B v Runner-up A 5:40 p.m.

Third-Place - Semifinals Losers 6:20 p.m.
Final - Semifinal Winners 7 p.m.

EGYPT

EGYPT TRAVELS TO POLAND FOR TWO-GAME SERIES
Egypt's Futsal National Team will travel to Zawiercie
to face the host Poland in a two-game international
friendly series on Jan. 23-24. The last time these
two squads met was on Sept. 3, 2000 in Cairo as Egypt
posted a 9-5 win over Poland.

USA

MISL TO ANNOUNCE ROSTERS FOR 2002 ALL-STAR GAME
The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) will announce
on Jan. 23, its 2002 rosters for the league's annual
all-star game scheduled for the Gund Arena in Cleveland,
Ohio on Feb. 17. The rosters were selected through a
balloting of media members from across the United States,
as well as a panel of MISL team executives and coaches.
Voters were asked to pick two all-star rosters, each
consisting of two goalkeepers, five defenders and
six midfielders/forwards. The East Squad will have
players from the Baltimore Blast, Harrisburg Heat
and Philadelphia Kixx, while the West will consist
of players from the Cleveland Crunch, Kansas City
Comets, and Milwaukee Wave. In addition, several
Commissioners' Selections from the rosters of the
former World Indoor Soccer League teams, will be
announced on Jan. 24. The all-star coaches will be
determined by the winning percentage of MISL clubs
through Jan. 27. The MISL All-Star Weekend will run
from Feb. 15-17. For more information, check the MISL
website at www.misl.net.

WAVE TAKES TWO FROM HEAT, REMAIN ON TOP OF 2001-02
MISL STANDINGS
The Milwaukee Wave swept a two-game series over the
host Harrisburg Heat on Jan. 19-20, and remained in
first-place in the 2001-02 MISL standings with an
overall ledger on 16-5. After taking the first game
on 19-8 on Jan. 19, the Wave completed the sweep
scoring eight unanswered goals on their way to a
17-8-road victory over the Heat (6-14) the following
day. The Kansas City Comets (11-10) also enjoyed a
perfect 2-0 record on Jan. 18-19 with a pair of home
victories over the Philadelphia Kixx (13-7) for the
squad's fourth straight win of the MISL season. The
Comets took the first game 19-11 on Jan. 18, then
extended their home unbeaten streak to 9-0 after
posting a 17-10 win over the Kixx in game two the
next day. In another MISL match, the Cleveland
Crunch (5-15) snapped a seven-game losing streak
with a 24-22 victory over the visiting Baltimore
Blast (10-10) on Jan. 19.

MEMBERS OF THE U.S. FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER POOL
IN MISL ACTION
Baltimore Blast - Three goals each by midfielder Denison
Cabral (0 caps) and forward Lee Tschantret (6 goals,
10 caps) weren't enough as Baltimore dropped a
heartbreaking 24-22 decision to the host Cleveland
on Jan. 19. Defender Sean Bowers (5 goals, 21 caps)
and forward Tarik Walker (0 caps) both added a tally
and an assist, while goalkeeper Scott Hileman (0 caps)
had 18 saves in the loss. Cleveland Crunch - Defender
John Ball scored the game-winner with 28 seconds
remaining to boost Cleveland to a 24-22 victory
over visiting Baltimore on Jan. 19. Forward Steve
Butcher (0 caps) scored twice, while midfielder Temoc
Suarez (1 goal, 7 caps) added an assist in the victory.
Harrisburg Heat - Defender Matt Knowles (0 caps) had
a goal for the host Harrisburg in the 19-8 defeat at
the hands of Milwaukee on Jan. 19. Kansas City Comets
- Forward Wes Wade (9 goals 13 caps) scored twice,
while teammates Nino DiSilva (0 caps) and Kevin
Koetters (2 caps) each added a goal in Kansas City's
19-11 win over visiting Philadelphia on Jan. 18.
DiSilva, Koetters and Wade would also score goals the
next day as the host Kansas City topped Philadelphia
again 17-10. Defender Nate Houser (0 caps) notched
the game-winner for Kansas City. Philadelphia Kixx
- Defender Pat Morris (0 caps), midfielder Chris
Marinos (0 caps) and forward Don D'Ambra (0 caps)
all scored for Philadelphia in the 19-11 road loss
to Kansas City on Jan. 18. Morris scored twice and
Marinos added a goal and an assist as Philadelphia
dropped its second straight game to Kansas City,
17-10, on Jan. 19. Milwaukee Wave - Forward Brian
Loftin (5 goals, 12 caps) notched a hat trick to
lead Milwaukee to a 19-8 win over host Harrisburg
on Jan. 19. Forward Todd Dusosky (1 goal, 5 caps)
added a goal and two assists, while goalkeeper
Victor Nogueira (16 caps) made 10 saves in the
victory. Loftin and forward Joe Reiniger (0 caps)
each had two tallies, while Dusosky had a goal and
an assist in Milwaukee's 17-8 road victory over
Harrisburg on Jan. 20. Nogueira added 14 saves in
goal for Milwaukee.

BEACH SOCCER

BRAZIL CAPTURES VIII BEACH SOCCER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Brazil captured the VIII Beach Soccer World Championships
in Rio de Janeiro, after topping the defending champion
Portugal in the finals 6-5 on Jan. 20. Prior the
finals, Brazil went 3-0 in group play and defeated
Uruguay 8-4 in the semis (Jan. 19) for a berth in the
championship game on Jan. 20. Uruguay settled for
third-place honors after scoring a 5-3 victory over
Thailand earlier in the day.

VIII Beach Soccer World Championships
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Jan. 13-20, 2002
Final Results/Standings

Group A (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Brazil (3, 3-0-0, 17:4, 9)*
Thailand (3, 2-1-0, 9:13, 6)*
Spain (3, 1-2-0, 11:7, 3)
France (3, 0-3-0, 9:19, 0)

Group B (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Portugal (3, 3-0-0, 20:11, 9)*
Uruguay (3, 1-2-0, 16:12, 3)*
Italy (3, 1-2-0, 14:16, 3)
Argentina (3, 1-2-0, 14:25, 3)

Jan. 13
Brazil 6, Thailand 0

Jan. 15
Argentina 8, Italy 6
Spain 7, France 2
Portugal 6, Uruguay 3

Jan. 16
Thailand 5, France 4
Portugal 6, Italy 4
Brazil 4, Spain 1
Uruguay 11, Argentina 2

Jan. 17
Thailand 4, Spain 3
Portugal 8, Argentina 4
Brazil 7, France 3
Italy 4, Uruguay 2

Jan. 19
Semifinals
Brazil 8, Uruguay 4
Portugal 3, Thailand 2

Jan. 20
Third-Place
Uruguay 5, Thailand 3

Championship
Brazil 6, Portugal 5


Information was researched and compiled by Steven Torres,
who is currently the P.R. Coordinator/Futsal Press
Officer at the United States Soccer Federation.

Futsal is a sport that is a derivative of soccer and
played with five-man teams on a basketball style court,
with no walls and a low bouncing ball, unlike the
traditional sport of U.S. indoor soccer played with
six-man squads and walls. Great soccer superstars such
as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo and Diego Maradona grew up
playing the game and credit Futsal with developing
their skills. FUTSAL® is a registered trademark of
the United States Futsal Federation.