Interview with Mikhail Semenov, SPAMF president and organizer of the prestigious tournament Sankt Petersburg´s Autumn 2004 which is going to start on November 10th.

Special thanks to Vladimir Malgin for his translation

The Sankt Petersburg tournament is almost considered like an European Championship Under 21. Do you agree? Do you think that this could be the first step to organize a UEFA sanctioned European Championship for Under 21 teams and maybe a FIFA sanctioned World Championship Under 21?

Yes, and I have a strong hope about this point. In these 12 years the Tournament has made a way from a little club competition, to the unique U-21 Championship. And in case if it grows into something bigger, like European or World U-21 Championship, this would only be excellent for futsal lovers all over the world. I just hope that it would remain a real Saint-Petersburg creature.

When and why was organized for the first time your tournament? Which was the original idea and aim of the organizers?

It was organized for first time in 1992, the first year after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The aims were simple - to make a sort of 'trademark' tournament, which could become a symbol of futsal on Petersburg's shores of Neva. The original idea belonged to Nikolai Levnikov, very known former FIFA referee, now member of UEFA Refereeing Committee, who was President of Futsal Association of St.-Petersburg in that time.

Which are the difficulties in organizing a great tournament like this?

The first and foremost, is that futsal is not considered as olympic sports. Thus it is much more difficult to attract sponsors, TV broadcast contracts etc. But with help, this could be overcame.

Poland will not take part in the tournament. The club that will replace them, Sankt Petersburg, is a local selection composed of Under 21 players?

That is very much a disappointment. Especially taking in mind that in official brochures, posters, on other ads throughout the city, Poland is already printed. I just hope that in next year, they'd pay more attention to procedure of obtaining entry visas.
Saint-Petersburg is a sort of a U-21 National Team of St.-Petersburg. It will be composed of players, who take part in SPAMF Championship. I hope that these guys could make a really good replacement for Polish team.

Which is the hope for the future editions of the tournament?

My hopes... My hopes are that Tournament gains official UEFA and FIFA support and becomes official U-21 Championship. So that Saint-Petersburg gets a really good place in the futsal world.

The best memory about the tournament? Which was the best ever edition?

Best edition was of course the 2003's one, because it was the first year when Tournament welcomed U-21 National Teams in 'Yubileiny' Sports Palace. This was a big jump for the tournament which should develop and prosper in 2004 and later.
But you know, I just hope that every next year will be better than previous.