Spain and Brazil dominate Futsal Planet Awards but Brand and Michael poll well.

As previously reported in an unexpected Xmas present National Coach and Technical Director David Brand, along with the evergreen Junior Michael were nominated in the prestigious Futsalplanet Awards 2004.

Brand’s nomination was naturally in the National Coaches section and Michael's in the Player of the Year Award and was by virtue of Samoa's achievements in the OFC Futsal World Cup Qualifiers in Canberra, in July last year.

The Futsal Planet Awards have been published in recent days and are as follows.

Best National Team Coach

The recent Futsal World Championship played in Chinese Taipei considerably influenced the jury's choice in crowning the Best National Team Coach of the Year in the Futsal Planet 2004 Awards. As a final consequence of 272 valid votes (many of the best National team coaches were in the voters list, so that they couldn't vote in their own category), for a total amount of 4080 pts to be shared between 50 candidates.

The first place went to the Spanish National team coach Javier Lozano Cid (1216 pts), who repeated the past season's triumph. The Italian coach Alessandro Nuccorini (2nd place, 723 pts) and the Brazilian Fernando Ferretti (3rd place, 432 pts) completed the Futsalplanet Awards podium.

Samoa's National Coach David Brand who was also nominated in the category came a creditable 35th and was a happy man on hearing the news.




"To just be nominated was an honour in itself. For voters and some of my peers to actually vote for me, makes me feel very proud of the achievements of the staff and team at the World Cup Qualifiers last year.”

"I hope that we can embrace the sport here in Samoa as I do believe we have so much potential despite our limited resources,” said Brand from his home in Apia today.

"Yes I am very flattered and to be mentioned in the same breath as the other coaches who have such knowledge and experience is a major plus and I am sure Junior will feel the same.”

"I have always said that Samoans are well suited to the sport of Futsal with their quick feet, creativity and flair and given the facilities, funding and international experience, I do believe we can develop and become a force to be reckoned with."

"Ranked at 99 in the world, we have a long way to go but I genuinely believe we have the potential to to move quickly up the rankings. Considering the results in Canberra and the oppositions ranking we have to be positive about the future and hopefully generate a strong following for Futsal in Samoa."

Congratulations to Javier Lozano Cid: the Best National Futsal Team Coach of the Year!


Best Player in the World

As was quite predictable, after a highly impressive World Championship, the highest stair of the podium went to the Brazilian star Falcao (Alessandro Rosa Vieira) (993 points), current player of the soccer's club São Paulo FC and simply the best.

The Playas De Castellon's (Spain’s) great flank Javi Rodriguez (Javier Rodriguez Nebreda), recent World Champion in Chinese Taipei, conquered the second place (502 points), while another Brazilian born player (naturalized Spanish), Marcelo (Marcelo Dos Reis Soares), Polaris World Cartagena's pivot, reached the third place (254 points).

The final results were determined by 300 valid votes for a total amount of 4500.

Congratulations to Alessandro Rosa Vieira "Falcao": the Best Player of the Year!

Samoan Captain Junior Michael polled well to achieve an excellent position of 106 out of 143 players who polled votes from the 200 nominated. Well done Junior from all in Samoa. Let’s hope that other players can follow in your footsteps in the future.




Best National Team 2004

A total of 300 valid votes were cast (for an amount of 4500 points distributed between the 50 candidates) by the voters.

As an obvious consequence of the last World Championship played in Chinese Taipei the final result was a plebiscite in favour of Spain (1374 points gained), which defeated the fierce competition offered by Brazil (2nd place: 941 points) and Italy (3rd place: 902 points).

Congratulations to Spain: the Best National Team of the Year!

With a restructure of all competitions imminent in 2005, a new National Futsal League in Samoa is proposed to get underway in October. The future is bright for the sport of Futsal in the Treasure Islands of the South Pacific.

Soccer Samoa Media will be following the progress intently and will be first with all the news and developments.

Futsal Planet Best Goalkeeper of the Year

We reached the last of the Futsal Planet Awards 2004 - the Best Goalkeeper of the Year. Samoa's Setefano Pesa picked up support to finish 72nd out of 88 behind Spain's Luis Tarodo.

In this category the final result was determined by 290 valid votes for a total amount of 4350 available points. The candidates list was composed of 100 great goalkeepers coming from all around the World but, as expected, the first place of the podium went, again, to the Spanish National Team goalkeeper Luis Amado Tarodo (1074 pts), who conquered his second title in a row in this category. The Brazilian Franklin (2nd place, 355 pts) and the Italian Angelini (3rd place, 318 pts) were the main opponents of Luis Amado.

Samoa's own Setefano Pesa also picked up some support in the Goalkeeper of the Year Award which is tremendous for the diminutive goalkeeper from Moamoa. The talented little dynamo finished 72nd out of 88. Congratulations to Setefano.




“I am very pleased for Sete as he has great potential in this code. Obviously he not as suited to the outdoor game due to his size but in Futsal he has great agility and is very brave,” commented National Coach David Brand.

Congratulations to Luis Amado Tarodo: the Best Goalkeeper of the Year!

National Coach and Technical Director David Brand is available for further comment on email davidbrand2003@yahoo.com.au or dbrand@lesamoa.net