Courtesy: UEFA


Deco illustrates Madrid motives

Wednesday, 15 February 2006

by Greg Demetriou

from Madrid

Earlier this season, uefa.com spoke to FC Barcelona and Portugal star Deco about Futsal and how instrumental it was in his rise to the highest rung of world football.

Big help
"I play Futsal and it has helped a lot," the Brazilian-born playmaker said. "I played from the age of nine until I was 16 when I had to stop to go on with my football career. It improves my speed and dribbling skills." The key element here was the use of the present tense. While Deco had to give up playing Futsal regularly to follow his football dream, he admits that the lessons learned are still with him and being put to use in the UEFA Champions League.

Top thinkers
At this week's second UEFA Futsal Conference in Madrid, the example of superstars like Deco and Brazilian internationals like Ronaldinho, Robinho and Ronaldo has often been cited. For all the expertise being imparted by the game's top thinkers and administrators, there is nothing like seeing it in the flesh. From the ability to control and play the ball in tight circumstances, to being able to find a team-mate or finish from improbable situations, Futsal itself is the best promotion of the game and what it can offer those going on to play the eleven-a-side 'older brother'.

Artful Deco
As a case in point, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh showed the 170-strong delegation, gathered from each of UEFA's member associations, a video of Deco playing Futsal during a Barcelona training session. With the diminutive Portuguese stuck on the sideline in his own half and surrounded by 'opponents', Roxburgh froze the action and asked the audience: "what happened next?". Various suggestions were mooted but no one came close to the right answer. In one instant, Deco played the ball into the air, knocked it over the head of his marker before running round him. He then touched the ball forward before unleashing it beyond the unsuspecting goalkeeper.

Spread the word
Such a moment of magic followed by a goal can occur in seconds wherever the ball is during a Futsal match. You cannot take your eye off the ball, whether playing or watching, and those gathered in Laz Rozas were urged to do all they could to take the game to the uninitiated. Chief among them was UEFA Futsal Committee chairman Petr Fousek, who spoke with certainty about what was required. "It is very necessary to see Futsal live, to fall in love with it," he said. "If you bring people to the halls, and show them the game they will go for it." Deco certainly did.




Courtesy: UEFA


Madrid summit bids Futsal farewell

Thursday, 16 February 2006

by Greg Demetriou

from Madrid

The second UEFA Futsal Conference ended fittingly with an exhibition match involving two top Spanish clubs at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Madrid on Wednesday.

Live game
After two days of stimulating presentations and detailed discussions in the Spanish capital, the 170-odd delegates from across UEFA's 52 member associations gathered in the stands of the centre's impressive Futsal hall to watch UEFA Futsal Cup favourites Boomerang Interviú FS against CD La Escuela Caja Segovia FS. Also present was the UEFA Futsal Committee and its chairman Petr Fousek, along with the world champion coach of Spain, Javier Lozano.

Scintillating skills
It was a chance to see the "magic" in action, picking up the theme expressed by UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh both in opening and closing the conference. Certainly the likes of Brazil star Schumacher and Spain goalkeeper Luis Amado did not disappoint with some scintillating skills on show. The game finished 4-1 to Boomerang, thanks in part to two goals from the prolific Joan.

Today's position
Roxburgh's closing remarks also touched on the need for Futsal to keep on building, despite the progress made in the past decade. In 2006, the UEFA European Futsal Championship for national teams and the UEFA Futsal Cup for club sides are fully established, there are at least 34 associations fully committed to Futsal and the sport has moved under UEFA's professional football division – a sign of its increasing status.

'Tough road'
"It took us ten years to get to what we have today," Roxburgh said. "It was a very tough road but after these ten years we already have established Futsal as an important element in the big picture of football ... we will not recognise Futsal in the next ten years." He added that the informal chats that took place during delegates' free time were probably "among the most important elements of such an event".

Committee meeting
Those talks would naturally lead to new contacts and new relationships between member associations - whether élite nations imparting invaluable advice or fledgling countries looking for pointers about how to proceed. There was also major progress made from the formal discussion groups, with Fousek pledging that the UEFA Futsal Committee, meeting today, would build on their recommendations.

Extra excitement
There were a number of main priorities put forward. First, to try and get the UEFA European Futsal Championship to increase from eight to a minimum of 12 teams, creating extra excitement in qualifying and a more competitive final round. Then, a strong desire from 39 countries for an Under-21 event. Finally, there was a wish for improvements to the UEFA Futsal Cup, although the conference had already heard about proposed changes to a 'final four' format for the competition's climax.

'Fast train'
Working with the grassroots, looking at the women's game, ensuring that all 52 nations ultimately get involved, and more UEFA and national association promotion and support were other priorities. Underlining that all present should get on board for Futsal as soon as possible and do all they can to sell the game back home, Fousek said: "This is a fast train, it never stops, never slows down. The only chance is to look to the most developed nations."

Destination Prague
The speed of progress is clearly building up a head of steam, and it will be interesting to see how much further the sport has come by the time delegates reconvene in Prague for the third UEFA Futsal Conference in two years' time.



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