Courtesy: UEFA

Charleroi take action for the future

Thursday, 26 January 2006

by Berend Scholten

UEFA Futsal Cup holders Action 21 Charleroi are in the midst of defending their European title this week - but have also announced big plans to ensure future success.

Long-term project
Last year's two-legged triumph against MFK Dinamo Moskva was a dream come true for the Belgian champions, who had lost two of the previous three finals. Chairman Paul Locicero said: "That victory was the result of an intensive project that has lasted years. It produced one of the most glorious chapters in the still-short history of our club."

Youth schemes
Charleroi, who only became a top-flight team a decade ago but have won every Belgian title since 1999, are now turning to youth development, having built their reputation on a stream of imports from the Futsal hotbed of Brazil. Locicero explained: "Youth has to be the cornerstone of the future. It is our intention to triple the number of young players working with us. We currently have 300 youth players in our academy, with three full-time coaches, and at the moment we have to put interested youngsters on a waiting list.

Christmas course
"We organised a scheme for young players over Christmas, to come for five days' training, costing only €40, including food and drinks. These steps ensure we have enough of our own youth products to keep on challenging in the future, not least on the international stage."

Brazilian plans
Not that Charleroi are considering losing their cosmopolitan image. "We are seriously thinking about starting a Futsal school in the Brazilian city Sao Paulo," the chairman added. "With Pélé as patron, they already have a football academy there. They want to expand it to Futsal, so youngsters from all over the world can go there. They would receive lessons in three world languages - Portuguese, English and French. However, the goal is to teach them all the skills of Futsal.

Exchange programme
"Our aim is for young Belgian Futsal players to go and improve themselves in Brazil, and we also want to start an exchange programme between Brazil and Belgium. The Brazilian government is aiding the building of such centres, and the same could be done over here, in Charleroi and elsewhere. It could lead to a Belgium Futsal academy in which Brazilian youngsters could participate, and Brazilian teachers could work."

Expansion
As for the immediate future, Charleroi are planning to expand their Garenne sports complex, having glimpsed the future during last season's UEFA Futsal Cup when they attracted crowds of 6,500 to a larger local arena, the Spiroudôme.

Facilities
Locicero said: "We do not have the best facilities. The smallest outdoor football clubs have their own canteen, while indoor clubs do not have those facilities. We have an annual budget of €2m. We need a capacity of 2,500, in which we ourselves can organise the VIP seating and catering, instead of the profits going to outsiders. We have received promises from private investors to supply the means to turn our ground into one with a modern restaurant and catering." As befits European champions.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com