Helvecia and Doncaster Rovers Belles win FA UMBRO National Futsal Cup 2008 in Sheffield

Helvecia Futsal became the new FA Futsal Cup 2008 champions after they beat last year’s winners Ipswich Wolves in Men’s National Futsal Cup final at the English Institute for Sport, Sheffield with a last second goal
The Final looked all set for extra time when it was still goal-less in the last few seconds, but a piece of quick thinking from Thiago Roberto Diorio won it for the London-based team of Brazilians, final score 1-0 to Helvecia.

Helvecia and Ipswich both reached the finals after finishing in the top two from Group A, the group of death and then making their way trough the quarter and semi finals to face one another again for the title.

In the women’s competition, Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC beat last year’s winners Watford Ladies in the final 1 nil to clinch the title and keep the trophy in South Yorkshire.

Against all odds, Doncaster Rovers Belles battled through the group and knock out stages and then to eventually win the final even though they had only entered the competition as a late replacement for the Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA and had never played Futsal before the weekend.

In the men’s plate competition the Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA representative team battled their way to the final, to face Northern Futsal League Rivals Hull Futsal Club, in a South versus East Yorkshire encounter.

Sheffield and Hallamshire FA battled hard but Hull took advantage in the first half after Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA and England goalkeeper, Graham Smith was injured in the semi final. Hull just clinching the Men’s plate competition, even though Sheffield and Hallamshire CFA made a comeback final score (3-2)

In the men’s competition, Corinthian’s player Bebeto Flausinio was awarded the tournament Golden Boot after scoring 9 goals and Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC player, Tanya Rich was awarded the women’s competition after scoring 10 goals.

The FA UMBRO Futsal Cup is an annual three competition, now in its sixth year which took place this weekend (4-6th July 2008), and saw the best 32 Men and women’s Futsal teams coming together to compete for the FA Futsal Cup 2008.

The event has gone from strength to strength since it was launched in 2002 with this year’s competition being the best yet with entertaining, passionate games of futsal being played throughout the weekend.

Over the weekend we have had tears of joy and of defeat, fanatical fans, pom pom girls, samba bands, cruel penalty knockouts and passionate play a plenty, and not forgetting to mention three days of Futsal.

Dermot Collins, National Development Manager for Small Sided Soccer for The FA said, “The County FA and the EIS have once again helped the FA stage a really successful tournament in one of the world's finest facilities. We hope to continue this relationship for many years to come.”

For the men’s competition the majority of teams reached the men’s final via the newly formed FA Regional Leagues, which has provided teams with a regular competitive arena to play Futsal. Since its introduction, the teams have sharpened up on their skills and abilities, and more teams were in the running years title.

English Futsal is on the up and this tournament provides a stage where teams are out to prove whose best on the national stage, win the cup and grab the UEFA qualification spot to compete against the best in Europe.

In the Women’s competition, Futsal is also increasing in popularity with well established 11-a-Side teams adopting the game. Again last year’s winners Watford Ladies were favourites to retain their title, who came into the finals with the advantage of experience, over the other teams.


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