Courtesy: Pittsburgh Tribune

Local coach leading Pittsburgh soccer team in international tournament

By Dave Yohe

Saturday, April 9, 2005

It didn't take Pittsburgh Futsal Clube long to make an impact on a national stage. Founded in 2003, Pittsburgh Futsal, a traveling soccer team, is one of six teams playing for a high finish in the eighth Intercontinental Cup of Clubs for Futsal in Puertollano, Spain. And a local man is leading the team though the tournament.

Pittsburgh Futsal is representing North America as the United States Futsal Federation Region 1 champion in the national event, which began Thursday and continues through Sunday. Pittsburgh's team captain is Andre "Monty" Santos, a Sao Paulo, Brazil native, who coaches the Riverview High School girls soccer team.

"This tournament is going to the highest level of competition," Santos said.
The Monroeville resident began his career playing with Juventus and Portuguesa, in Sao Paulo. His futsal background has led him to a professional soccer career with numerous teams in South America, Europe, and in the United States with the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer.

Futsal traces its roots back to 1930s South America as a way for smaller YMCAs to make accommodations for limited space.
"It is a smaller version of soccer," Santos said. "Everything is quicker. Quicker passing, quicker dribbling, quicker thinking."
It is a fast-paced, five-man game, played on a basketball-sized court with no side walls.

Futsal is where soccer legends, such as Pele and Ronaldo, honed their skills. Most professional soccer players from Brazil and Europe have a background in the game.

Futsal derives its name from the combination of the Spanish words for soccer, "futbal," and indoor, "sala."

Each team competes with five players on the floor, including the goaltender.

Teams, except for the goaltenders, are allowed to make unlimited substitutions, called "flying substitutions," while play is going on, similar to hockey.

Dave Schoefield of England is the only other player with national experience.

Goalkeepers Matt Bordogna of Monroeville, and Brad Pope of Charlotte, N.C., are the only players born in the United States. The rest of the squad is made up of players from Brazil and England.

"Being captain, I am able to choose the players to represent the U.S.," Santos said.

Pittsburgh beat the team representing New England, 5-4, in double overtime, to capture the Region 1 title, and advance to the finals. Pivot player Vitor Santos Brito scored the game-winning goal with two seconds remaining in the second overtime.

Pittsburgh began play in Group A against the 2004 champions, Carlos Barbosa of Brazil, dropping an 11-1 decision.

Pittsburgh finished group-play Friday with a 15-0 defeat to the current South American champs, Malwee/Jaraguà from Brazil.

Pittsburgh most likely will play a consolation match Sunday against the third-place finisher in Group B.