Dear All,
Futsal has gone through some breakthroughs and interesting times in past 2 months, this month's installment would like to highlight the "Decentralization" of Futsal's activities around the country, meaning more people are taking a direct hand in futsal related activities! This month as with always, I will break it down into numerous topics so those go-go speedreaders, feel free to go directly to the topic you feel most helpful or relevant to your activities. It used to take me 15 minutes to compose a newsletter, now I need a full 2 hours with 2 breaks to complete one! Happy reading, just kicking!

By the way, those who wish not to recieve this newsletter, please feel free to reply and I wil courtesously take you off the main mailing list. Thanks again!

National News:
Youth Development:
Monthly Roll of Honor and Tributes:
Equipment:
NCRFA:
Tournaments happened: (Warning, this is an extremely long section)
Tsismis and other horrible rumors : )
Projects:

Also see, final notes and the link of the month!

National News
As stated in earlier newletters, the Asian Cup, which will serve as the 2004 World Cup in Taiwan, will be held in Macau. So far, the South American Group has finished with their qualification round, Argentina, Brasil, and Paraguay have made it. Wanna see them? Do your part in building a competitive national team that'll prove the bookies wrong that only Thailand, Japan, and Iran are the only Asian Nations that are gonna make it! Kinda tall order? Nope. Nobody participates in an international tournament without the least bit of notion of the chance of making it all the way!

For the National Team's preparation, we(Philippines of course, not a select group of people) have four "potential" venues for the Men's National Team to call home in preparation for it.

- Pasay City Sports Complex (Courtesy of Pasay Mayor "Pewee", and Mr. Miki Trinidad)

- University of Asia and the Pacific(One of Futsal's founder's here)

- Ateneo de Manila University(The other Futsal mainstay in the country)

- San Andres Sports Complex (Courtesy of Manila Councilor Ally Atienza)

We are currently devising ways of making two tournaments(a festival and a league) before the end of the year to identify more players that will complement and compete with the existing pool of 12 that the PFF had. So far, there were a few we spotted. No identities yet, all in good time!

The PFF has reorganized its Futsal Committee. The final names are still with Mr. Joaqui Preysler. The task of the committee is to oversee development programs for the National Futsal cause. For the past two years, a number of people have stepped forward in doing their part and frankly speaking, everyone that has been involved deserves more than a pat in the back because it is picking up positively! For my development program concepts, I put an entire column at the bottom for it as not to discourage people from reading the national news, and for people to avoid my column if necessarry!?!

I paid a call to the President of the Cebu Football Associatin Mr. Maxi Maximo, he requested for the Futsal Items like the CDROM and VCD I said in previous newsletters that were readilly available upon request. After enjoying them, he would like to find ways to further Futsal in the Visayas. On behalf of his request, I informed the Philippine Football Federation through Mr. Preysler to look into his query of having another round of coaching seminars in the Visayas Region. Good Luck to the Visayas, we pray for all the best to come!

Please refer to my tributes section for this, another force is emerging in Philippine Futsal, this is Laguna!!!

Youth Development
Furthering my research and consultations with Mr. Preysler, the community center model and through schools can Futsal develop here. We are striving to market Futsal one school at a time and are so far successful in it, Woodrose is our latest addition. Implementing it into extra-curricular alternative club programs and P.E. curriculums is the best way to get the sport going. I appeal to all Sports Administrators and Faculty to take a serious look into this. Currently, the strength of Futsal as a P.E. subject is derived from the fact that there are no footsport P.E. sports in the National Program visible to most of us. Football could not fit in most schools because its facilities(No fields) and rules(90 mins. regulation time) are restrictive. P.E. subjects are 50 minutes long while the game itself and preparation for it would last for over 90 minutes. We will hopefully propose somethig to DECs once we have more schools involved in order to show as our basis for its possible succes in the national curriculum. Please refer to my Roll of Honor section for Vanni Tolentino's project in Quezon City.

On the side of the centers, I have noted the severe lack of real estate for football fields, therefore, the difficulty in setting up centers for excellence such as Makati/Alabang Football Schools. I have proposed that coaches look at using Futsal as filling this void by making centers in the overabundance of Basketball courts and halls all over the country so that those who wanna kick around get a shot at the sport! In Europe and South America, it is noted that almost all youth begin indoors, developing their skills and technique first, especially on the small area level playing surfaces. Examples of successful extractions? Multi Awarded player of the year Ronaldo!!!

Monthly Roll of Honor and Tributes
Vanni Tolentino strikes again! Hat Trick FC have come up with another program, this time, they are setting up a clinic for Saint Vincent School in Quezon City!

Mr. Gejo Jimenez and Allan Payson of Laguna have deserved a round of applause the world over for their conservative and yet extremely effective efforts in promoting Futsal in the Laguna area. Starting with a small get together of ex-football players at a village court in the West Grove Village, it has now expanded to the point that Laguna is aving a Futsal Festival next weekend! Also, they have got La Salle Canlubang into the act of embracing Futsal, they are currently finding ways of implmenting it into their Physical Education program. Aside from that, there have been having successful informal tournaments, generating more interest among the humble people of Laguna.

Ms. Emma Fernandez, so ecstatic with the performances of her ladies in the first Women's Futsal Cup, has informally agreed to explore more ways of further implementing Futsal into the PAREF Woodrose Alabang's Physical Education and Club program. We hope this goes well, the PFF and NCRFA has pledged to support her initiatives by offereing lectures to P.E. instructors.

Kudos to current National Team Captain Papap Bayona. In the La Salle Canlubang presentation, he mesmerized a crowd of 150 people with his Futsal juggling skills and his part in the exhibition match to entice the children to join the club!

UA&P Futsal mainstay and Faculty member John-D Borra has recently married the wonderful Tina Zamora, his colleague. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Za..., ooops : ) I mean Borra, promise to devote more time to futsal etc. since the wedding preparations that took place these past few months are no longer in the way! A happy married life to these two wonderful people. They are planning find ways in implementing programs to help further youth education, and also a little bit of futsal involved with it!

Equipment
Adidas - They have released 4 new Futsal shoes!!! 2 are sambas at P3,400, one is blue with beige stripes, and the other believe it or not, is gold... The other is the Futsal Variation of its locally popular Football Boot, the DX-3 series at around P2,500, in black and blue, or black and red trim.

Adidas has also released 4 new lines of Futsal shoes worldwide as a vote of confidence for the sport. I have just ordered the top of the line model with all my savings! Because of my weight increasing, I always wanted to buy the revolutionary Climacool running shoes for fitness. In a shock move, Adidas launched the Futsal Climacool Series! After seeing a friend of mine use them for Badminton(I tell you these Badminton Players...), I decided to get myself a pair through Adidas Taiwan. You can see them on www.soccer.com, more popularly known to all of us magazine nuts as Eurosport. The model is Adidas Climacool ID Silver, its not bragging, just wanted to share to what extent technology is hitting Futsal! If the technology of the shoe won't help me lose weight, it'll be the shame to the shoe's design and my possible laziness!!! In Tagalog, Pogi points nalang pre : )

I have one complaint for Adidas though. They carry the Futsal Balls in their stores. I believe that it would be more helpful to the Public if they saw a little black label on the ball holders in their shops to identify it as a Futsal Ball rather than people simply mistaking it for a Mini Football. Nonetheless, lets do all we can and help promote the sport by identifying the name and its special qualities!

Umbro has just released a new line of 3 Rubber shoes that are compatible with Futsal. You can find them in all the major sports stores that distribute UMBRO such as planet sports, toby's etc. Dig the price, P995 is the cheapest, and this goes up to around P1,600! Please have a look, Futsal is becoming more economically reachable to more and more people everyday!

Nike has 2 new Futsal Shoe designs, I saw the Woodrose Goalkeeper wearing the stunning red and white model! The beautiful silver model released earlier this year has been put on sale on most outlets at sometimes more than 30% off. Please take advantage of this!

I keep on repeating this, goalkeepers, please buy kneepads!!! I found nice LP Double strap knee pads at the Landmark for P350 only. Beleive me, its a wise investment! You can get kneepads at Toby's, most especially at the megastore in Glorietta, and all major department stores sporting goods sections.

I have recieved the following items from abroad:

1. Queensland Australia Futsal Training Manual by Brazilian Coach Marques

2. Queensland Australia Futsal Training Video by Brazilian Coach Marques

Both are currently in PFF for review...

3. From amazon.co.uk, 4 books -

Who rules the people's game - A study on how FIFA works

Only the Goalkeeper to Beat - Why only Crazy people can play Keeper

Entering the Field - Perspectives and Social Studies on Football

90 minute Manager - Applying Football Coaching Principles in Business Management

Items I am expecting soon:

From Germany, Futcon Futsal Ball Samples, children's size and senior size

I am taking a serious look at the junior sized Futsal balls, this may be the key to our future programs for Futsal Developement!!!

Laslty, trivia for everyone. I just found out on futsalonline.com, only two brands of balls in the world are FIFA certified for competition, Mikasa, and Adidas.

NCRFA
Right now, the NCRFA board is pre-occupied with the Football Globe Supercup. The officers are lobbying for the possiblity of a Futsal Superliga soon and I will keep you up to date on this matter. There have been no requests yet this month from NCR members for organizational and coaching seminars so I would like to invite those who would want to request for any to feel free to call me at 09178968648 or NCRFA directly. So far, the hype is building up in the provinces and they will level up fast!

Tournaments Happened
In the past two months, I have experienced two wonderful tournaments. The Pasay City inaugural Mayor's Cup Festival, and also the UA&P invitational Women's League.

- University of Asia and The Pacific Women's League

The following teams participated: Woodrose, Ateneo College, Far Eastern University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Poveda Learning Center, UA&P, Assumption College, Miriam High School and College, Collegio de San Agustin and St. Scholastica College.

Split into two groups, most of these womens teams were playing in their first women's tournament. With a rash of instructional seminars, the organizers got it off the ground. Starting slowly as expected, the tournament turned out to be one of the development revalations in the country! During its course, the teams learned more about the fundamentals of the game and applied them admirably. Early on, the mainstays were leading the pace. UA&P and Ateneo's experience was telling o its opposition but this did not stop exemplary newcomers such as the Powerful P.U.P. and also the visibly skillful Woodrose from plying their trade!

In two months, the finals came to be. The four teams mentioned above did make the last 4 and the finals and third place match was a night to remember in my books. 3rd place was vied for by P.U.P. and UA&P. With P.U.P. blasting their way through, UA&P held off their initial onslaught and used their experience to turn the tie around and convincingly win 4-7 with well taken goals and experienced goalkeeping.

The final though, will go down in my memory as one of the most beautiful games ever witnessed(I'm not only talking about the ladies!!!). A high school team of Futsal beginners against the juggernaut College of Futsal Development. A lopsided tie? I didn't think so after seeing how Woodrose performed in their first game. The tie started with lightning quick passing. Obviously gone where the "kicking off the ball outside" as possession was the order of the day. After going down 1-0 in the second minute, Woodrose awoke to begin one of the most vibrant Futsal ties to date locally. Rushing with intensity, they started to keep their cool and their extremely tall backline held firm, constantly frustrating the near telepathic understanding of famed Women's Futsal Players Ria Tanjangco and Carla Paredes. With the incisive running and finishing by their number nine(Who celebrates like Ronaldo with the gliding arms), and a whole team effort, they pushed Ateneo back to their half. The score started see-sawing with Woodrose taking the advantage over numerous occasions.

Ateneo though, with their reputations at stake, dug deep to the quality that made them do what we know as the Ateneo fighting spirit. With Coach Joel Villarino pulling whatever bags of tricks he could and also what little hair on his head(sorry coach Joe-Cox!!!), the ladies were warriors. Pressuring Woodrose with their attacking on the flanks, they were able to draw level a number of times. With the second half going more tense. A little more caution was on the side of Woodrose. The inexperience though would tell as they reached the maximum accumulation of 5 fouls. Nevertheless, the Woodrose Goalkeeper stepped up her game and saved whatever Ateneo through at her. Keeping her team alive, Ateneo cruelly drew level a minute before the end of normal time with another sweeping attack on the flank. Extra time was at hand...

Woodrose though did not crumble. Tired they were, proudly they stood. Ateneo? Determined they were, deadlier they touched! With the accumulated fouls carrying over, Woodrose committed a number of necessarry fouls in order to blunt the Ateneo attack, with the Goalkeeper saving all three spot kicks!!! It though was not enough. Futsal is a total game, involving all players and all the court. This is where Ateneo proved it was the master in the discipline they learned to love. In one mad scramble in the woodrose box, an Atenean striker stabbed the ball into the near post, initiating a series of jubilant celebrations from the winners, and sadness from the opponents. The Woodrose Goalkeeper crumbled to the ground in tears as her whole team came to console her in a sight that solidarity exists in this country. A worthy opponent, they still stood tall, stood proud. Ateneo? Whoever said that winning spirit was only available to the Men's UAAP Miracle Basketball Teams??? The ladies had their day! Final score extra time Ateneo 6 Woodrose 5, we have a champion!!!

- The Mayor's Cup

With Blueguards, Manila Football Club, Los Borrachos, Atletico, Don Bosco Alumni, UA&P, University of the Philippines International Selection, Cheng Hua Tigers and Ateneo College playing in this one day festival, it was interesting to see how these teams(70% Futsal beginners) would fare. With a crowd of over a hundred from the City of Pasay coming to watch, it was an entertaining day. Of significance, it was also the birthday of Futsal's mainstay in the country, Mr. Preysler.

Opened by no less than the Mayor of Pasay, Hon. Wenceslao Trnidad, it came to be a day of learning and applying. All teams had the chance to adjust to this new game they embraced, every game produced a more entertaining tie. Select match of the day? The Semifinals between MFC and Los Borrachos. MFC scored in the dying seconds of the game through a well placed side volley, leaving the goalkeeper planted. Penalty kicks would be MFC's salvation, making them reach the final against the upset of the tournament, Ateneo's speed and grit losing to the Football-mind and patience of Blueguards. The final was of no level near the semis, both teams tired, they gave everything they had and frankly speaking, their reserves of energy belied their age and they stil came up with a show worth mention. Tied at the end, penalties would settle it. Blueguards win, their 2nd Futsal Trophy of the month!!!

- Other tournaments to mention

RIFA's coaches and members got a bit itchy with always taking care of our region's youth. During one Football Festival for the youth held in Southridge, Alabang, the organizers decided to have a 35 and above Futsal Tournament!!! Not because I wasn't qualified to play because I was ten years below the cut off, two of my close collaborators participated and sent me the reports. The outcome? Blueguards Veterans prevailing! Noteworthy mention? Leo, the "Silver Bullet" of UST and Magallanes fame was top scorer!

Tsismis and other horrible rumors : (
Anybody getting those accusatory letters of politicking from lovingly Martin Hallam? I'm expecting his fourth installment to his chain letters on Monday as he always does. He has already hit out at PFF President Rene Adad, PFF Vice President Johnny Romualdez, and losing NCRFA Candidate Dodie King. Surprisingly, he uses some of the personal addresses I have on this email list. Hmmm... My call to Mr. Hallam is simple. If you do have these accusations, do you have the evidence as well? We admire your vigilance, but our admiration is only half because you have yet to fulfill your half of the bargain which is to justify your accusations and actions.

As I said, we all should vote for the man with the vision and mission to lead us towards a productive future. Frankly speaking on my side with Futsal, no Candidate has presented a platform yet on how he intends to tackle this. I know I do not have the capacity to vote because only the regional association heads do, but as part of the Football/Futsal Public, i'd like to know because those promises the candidate will make will lead me to believe the next four years would be beautiful and productive because of realistic targets, or the same old same old live and let live un-caring and unnaccountable relationship we all dread. We are being overshadowed by the growing hype of the Philippine Football Federation Elections. Must we drag the ugliness of local political mudslinging into this? Football and Futsal is a game for distinguished(By honor and respect, not wealth) and Loving Ladies and Gentlemen, not for people out to cause havoc and undeserved ill-will to fellow human beings.

Aother Tsismis/rumor. Over the past few months, there have been talks of private events marketers creating pro-leagues for Futsal. They have yet remained, rumors. One thing i'd like to note though, the rumors are getting louder and are comig from more sources. There is a possibility we are looking at a serious project for the future! My only view? We must teach all the teams and organizations in the country on how to properly organize, register(Regional Association and Local Government), and promote Clubs. We are still infant to the system and would like PFF to give lectures and invite foreign guests so that we may emulate on their success and possibly create, the Filipino Way!

Projects
Right now, I am seriously working on two projects, the national development program through responsible corporate partnership. This involves promoting the sport through a properly orchestrated program with starter kits and the establishment of PFF Certified Centers of Excellence. I have shared this idea with a number of people and will send out more details once concrete items are ironed out.

Another effort I am lobbying for? The 6 legged Futsal Festival Grand Prix series, based on Formula One. the Philippine Army recently used it in one of their projects and it was a success! I am looking forward to applying my learnings on this on a larger scale.

Lastly, with the help of others and numeroues experiences, I will do everything to make SuperLiga work. Superliga is no Globe Supecup or professional league. SuperLiga is a conceptualized league that will involve a number of qualities I always stress, camraderie, openess, charity, and goodwill. I will be forwarding more details of this also in the future so that more people can find ways to get involved, or even better, create something stronger tha what i can think of to forward Futsal faster!

End...

Phew... Like those special magazine issues that come out once in a while claiming to be the largest issue ever, this qualifies with that... The difficulties in writing Futsal Newsletters is starting to tell. My workload at my day job hasn't been of much help but one thing comes to mind. I have always looked forward to being able to witness more people getting involved with the game freely at all levels, therefore, my justification for the "Decentralization" I mentioned earlier. If you ask me why I spoke in length about the Women's League, the whole event exemplified the hopes and dreams of many on how Futsal would take impact on our ailing Country. I shed a tear during the final after the last kick won the game, a tear of joy and jubilation. Futsal is gonna make it, that night, Futsal won, big time!!!

Link of the Month:
I found this website extremely interesting. For those into making social cause projects and centers using Football, please take a look at this wonderful and highly successful cause oriented program in the United States:
www.sits.org/newsletter