Report by our Argentinian collaborator Patricio Knaudt

Some interesting news came from Argentinian Futsal, let's start from women futsal. The national team has a new coach: we're talking about Fernando Casais (head coach of Ferro Carril Oeste in the male First Division), who replaced the former trainer Verónica Levy (who was also fired as women team coach of Boca Juniors): change determined by disciplinary reasons. The Casais appointment has registered positive and critical reactions, the last ones due to his lack of experience in women futsal. In the year 2007 Argentina Women National team will be involved in the second edition of the South American Champs (to take place in Perú or Ecuador), and should play the traditional friendlies vs Uruguay in the last days of the year. Also, the women national league will start on May 19th and 20th (draw to take place tomorrow) and should count on 13 clubs:

San Lorenzo (title holder)
Banfield (runner up)
Boca Juniors
Chacarita Juniors
Arsenal F.C.
Atlanta
Country de Banfield
Acassuso
Racing Club
General Lamadrid (replacing Argentinos Juniors)
A.M.U.P.
Club de Jóvenes
Excursionistas



Larrañaga calls on european stars
Coming back to the male national teams, though the news was "in the air" since some months, now was officially confirmed: Fernando Larrañaga admitted on the Pasión Futsal magazine pages the idea to select some of the "european" players in order to complete the squad which will travel towards Rio de Janeiro for the Panamerican Games. Everything will therefore depend on the players willing to "sacrifice" their summer holidays and increase the Argentinian National team chances in Brazil. The names are the expected ones: Diego Giustozzi, Esteban González, Hernán Garcías, Carlos Sánchez, Fernando Wilhelm and others.

Jorge Newbery Awards
The Pinocho goalkeeper Santiago Elías was voted as best player of Argentinian Futsal according to the Premios Jorge Newbery which are celebrated every year by the Buenos Aires town administration. The other two players awarded were Martín Amas (Ferro Carril Oeste) and Matías Lucuix (River Plate). The Golden Award went to the Argentinian Blind Selection ("Los Murciélagos"), crowned as world champion in the last competition.



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