YORK UNIVERSITY HOLDING MAJOR FUTSAL TOURNAMENT THIS SATURDAY (18th Feb)

The inaugural PWC York University Annual Men’s Futsal Open will take place this Saturday, with nine of the top teams in the country being represented plus a Perth Youth Select team. Current National Champions Doncaster Deaf (featuring England player John Atkinson in their squad) will be pre-tournament favourites; however, they face stiff competition from several other sides, including Teesside University, a Grimsby select side and both the York University sides. The tournament will be split into two groups of 5 with the top two advancing from each group into semi - finals and a final. Club President and Tournament Director, Paddy Drysdale says "The tournament represents a great opportunity for our teams to compete against the best teams in the UK and for people new to the game to watch Futsal at a high level."

Futsal is the FIFA and UEFA recognised form of small-sided football. The game is however relatively new to England but the FA are working hard on bringing it up to speed with our European Counterparts. Dermot Collins, FA National Development Manager said: "Futsal is steadily gaining recognition as the best form of small-sided football in this country. It is ideal in the development of young players, but it is enjoyed by millions of people of all ages across the world."

Futsal gained rapid popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil and its supporters claim that the skill developed in this game is visible in the technique of players such as Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. While Brazil continues to be the Futsal hub of the world, the game is now played, under the auspices of FIFA, all over the world. The end-to-end, non-stop, goalmouth action has proven a hit with the fans as the number of professional leagues in the world game grows every year. Russia, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Japan and Argentina all have professional leagues along with Spain, the current World Champions, whose league regularly attracts over thirty thousand spectators a week to it's games.

Two teams featuring prominently in the York tournament, the University of York and the University of Teesside both competed in a UEFA sanctioned tournament in Brno in January with the final being televised live. Along with this Futsal has a national TV deal in Spain and several Eastern European Countries. It would seem that Britain is not far behind in embracing the game with a National Premier league being launched in a month with York University competing.

The quality of the teams and the fast-paced excitement of the game will be evident during the tournament, which will take place on Saturday 18th February from 12:30 to 18:00 in York University's newly developed Sports Centre. Spectators are more than welcome and entrance will be free. Dave Godfrey, Tournament Secretary and Press & Publicity rep "hopes to see the event become a regular fixture in the GB Futsal calendar".




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