Courtesy: Swazi Observer


Savoy supports Futsal

By Sabelo Ndzinisa

SOCCER - SIHLANGU coach Raoul Savoy has applauded the establishment of the Swaziland Futsal Association.

Interviewed yesterday, Savoy observed that the move will have huge benefits for the development of football in the country.
He stated that this sport was popular in South American countries like Brazil and Argentine where the best talent of football players is produced. “This game improves the technical awareness of players and it could reap positive rewards for this country.

"Whoever came up with this idea must be applauded,” the Swiss-born mentor said.

He promised to support the move and said the people behind it should feel free to approach him for assistance, adding that, “whatever initiative that will help develop Swazi football will be supported by the national team coaches.”

He added that he was happy the National Football Association (FA) is fully behind the association as illustrated by the fact that first vice president Timothy Shongwe has been appointed the chairman.

Futsal originated in the South American countries of Uruguay and Brazil where, in the 1930s, two versions of small sided football were being played in the cities of Montevideo and Sao Paulo respectively.

In Montevideo, the Argentinean coach Juan Carlos Ceriani developed an indoor version of the 11 aside game that could be played in youth competitions in the local YMCA’s.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, a version began to develop on the streets of Sao Paulo, leading to the publishing of the first rules of the game in 1936 from the country that would soon become the masters of the game.

The sport began to spread from the South American continent and with its growing popularity came the need for a governing body and a World Championships.

The International Federation for Futebol de Sala, FIFUSA, was officially founded in Brazil in 1971 and the first FIFUSA world championships were held in Sao Paulo with the hosts taking first place ahead of Paraguay and Uruguay.

The Brazilians fielded stars from their 11-aside game that had been brought up playing the sport with, amongst others, Pele, Rivelino, Falcao and Zico demonstrating their skills as Futsal players. It was becoming clear that the sport was beginning to outgrow FIFUSA and in 1989 FIFA took over as the governing body, abbreviating Futebol de Sala to ‘Futsal’ and organising the first FIFA Futsal World Championship held in the Netherlands in the same year.

Under FIFA’s control new rules were introduced aimed at improving the technical and aspects of the game for players and spectators alike. The ball was made slightly larger (increased to a size 4) but still weighted to reduce bounce, the linesmen were replaced with the second referee and unlimited substitutions were introduced.

FIFA’s relationships with its member associations enabled more and more countries to gain access to futsal knowledge and resources. This was no doubt a major factor in the increase in the number of participating nations in the fourth FIFA world championships held in Gautamala City in 2000, in which Spain ended the dominance of Brazil in world Futsal beating them in the final.

This was the crowning glory on an excellent performance by all the UEFA Associations taking part.






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