Courtesy: The Bangkok Post


Sublime skill was perfect advert for futsal

by JOHN DYKES


Earlier this week in Kuala Lumpur, I was lucky enough to witness a piece of sheer football magic.

Technically it was actually futsal magic but the effect was the same. It was delivered by a powerfully-built Brazilian called Lenisio. In a tight, highly-competitive encounter with Asian champions Iran, Lenisio controlled a through-ball with one touch, executed a sublime turn, holding off two challengers, and buried the ball in the back of the net.

Brazil won the game 4-0 and Lenisio's quality was what separated the two sides.


A few hours later, a Portuguese footballer with a Brazilian's name demonstrated what separates him and his team from the rest. Cristiano killed off Portsmouth with two stunning goals in the space of three minutes and looks on course for a truly remarkable goal tally come the end of this season.


Now, when one considers that we have only just made it to February and also that Manchester United are competing on three fronts, Ronaldo has the potential to score 35, 40 or even 45 goals. People, we are witnessing something historic here.


If he carries on doing what he is doing, no one will be able to stop Manchester United from winning the Barclays Premier League. But what makes the situation even more compelling is the realization that should Arsenal or Chelsea actually manage to win the league, they will have to do something equally sensational.


Arsenal's players have demonstrated that they have an almost infinite capacity for invention (and an individual in Cesc Fabregas who has yet to rediscover his top form), while Chelsea's sheer force of character suggests that we are in for a title race to cap all others.


But back to Ronaldo and Lenisio. The former played futsal growing up in Portugal and it is no coincidence that he has developed an array of skills that enable him to open up even the most congested of defences.


Lenisio works his magic in a confined playing space, with the knowledge that the slightest mistake with his first touch will allow a defender to rob him. Ronaldo works in more wide-open spaces but he uses the futsal player's technique of both controlling and moving the ball at the same time to gain him the advantage needed to turn on the pace and exploit space.


Lenisio, just as every great futsal striker does, isn't afraid to stab, jab and toe-poke his shots if it means he can surprise a goalkeeper and grab a split-second's advantage. He hits the ball with ferocious power and often with an abbreviated backlift. Now, study Ronaldo's shooting technique and I hardly need to go on.


No matter which team you support, no matter what the tabloids tell you about the lad's personal life, Ronaldo has to be admired for the phenomenon that he is. Players like him don't come along very often. However in futsal they do. Brazil churns out the likes of Lenisio on a regular basis. Argentina showcased a similar gem, called Cristian Borruto, at the KL World 5s this week. Each of the world's top futsal teams - Portugal, Italy, Russia, Spain - has a player capable of producing magic.


To return to last week's column, England's poor showing in KL (where they have looked like a bunch of 11-a-side players trying to play an alien version of the game) reinforces my point that futsal should be a major component in any nation's development strategy.


The sooner youngsters across England learn the fundamentals of touch, movement and ball-striking, as required by futsal, the better it will be.


John Dykes is a presenter on ESPN STAR sports



Futsal Planet



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