Futsal Planet

Interview with Zoltan Jakab – Coach of romanian team

Courtesy: Romanian Soccer Federation website

Reporter: Mr. Jakab please make one first evaluation of this great performance.
ZJ: I think we deserved this qualification but I must admit we were lucky a thing that it is indispensable in futsal. For example in the game against Belgium, at 0-0, our opponents hit two times the bar goal and it is impossible to say how the game should be if they scored. I don’t want to minimize the merits of our boys. They showed to everyone they know to play good futsal inclusive in three against four like in the game against Slovenia when we didn’t suffer a goal in such situations. Anyway this qualification is a great thing.

R: Why?
ZJ: Because we overtake the conditions from Romania. Think about: in Belgium there are 8.000 futsal players, or in Romania we have only 500. And from this 500 I think there are less than 90 professional players. Infrastructure? This is a general problem for romanian sport. Coaches specialized in futsal? Right now we don’t have. From now on will begin some courses. Specialized players? Few ones. Let me tell you something else. I am coach of national team since 2003 and last year I used 19 players, 14 from these played this year at the two tournaments for qualification in Deva (Romania) and Slovenia. We are in the beginning of our way in futsal, one way we started it four years ago. The way we choosed is a good one but we must be realistic, to analyze what we did till today and to see what we will do from now on.

R: I understand from you that this qualification is one step in developing futsal in Romania.

ZJ: Exactly. In my opinion we must reconsider national championship to make it a more powerfull competition. You see we did this performance and it could be a mistake not to take advantage of this chance.

R: You told me about the 19 players you used. How important was for you the homogeneity of team?

ZJ: Enormous. Homogeneity and of course the big number of games, 60, played by national team in the last three years.

R: How will you continue?

ZJ: Just kidding, the draw for Portugal in 12 may. We will have a lot of friendlies in this spring, but we must analyze what we did and how will we continue the work we started. We must continue on a way of discipline and to resolve all the other technical problems of romanian futsal.

Zoltan Jakab (Photo courtesy: Romanian FA)

More declarations for Futsalplanet.com

George Mara, futsal representative in Executive Commitee of Romanian Federation
"It is a great thing for Romanian Futsal and for Romanian sports in general. We started this qualifiers from 28th place in Europe, but we worked hard and right now we are in the eight top teams. I hope in a good performance in Portugal for our team, aiming to be the surprise of this European Final Tournament."

Paul Grecu, president of CIP Deva, romanian title holder
"We did a great thing. My club CIP Deva started the way having good results in Uefa Futsal Cup. Right now it is the time for our national team. We must work for these results not to be the unique ones.

Vali Ionita, team manager of Romanian National Team
"We did it. I dreamed to qualify for Portugal 2007 since when we started the preliminary group. And my dream came true. I congratulate all the boys and I give my sincerely thanks to all the persons that helped us and all the persons that trusted in us."

Radu Petre, secretary of Romanian Futsal Comitee
"I didn’t thought ever I could reach this day. I am very happy for this great result. I think it is result of the players work and also the work of all the people involved in Romanian Futsal.

Cristi Vornicu, futsalplanet collaborator for Romania
"At the beginning of the preliminary round, when the draw was made, I hoped in this qualification. Sunday evening I was sitting in front of my computer, praying for romanian team. And God helped us. It is a great performance for Romanian Futsal. After three years of hard work we reached the high society of european futsal. We must work harder from now on so to exploit this moment. We must increase futsal in Romania."

Dumitru Stoica, romanian player and Futsalplanet.com European Bronze Shoe Winner
I am very happy for what we did. We played a good futsal in Slovenia. It was important for us to be a team in the pitch as well as outside."

Artur Melo, portuguese coach of Cosmos Pitesti
"I am happy I am coaching in a country that is in the top eight teams of Europe. Romanian team was lucky but luck is a part of this game and what remains is this qualification. Congratulations to the technical staff, to the players and to all the people that were involved in this performance."

Romanian National team (Photo courtesy: Romanian Futsal Committee)

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