Courtesy: Futsal Focus Facebook page


"Rising Star" Alfee Robbins talks to Futsal Focus about his futsal career,playing for England and life after Oxford City Lions!!

Recently Chris Chesterman of Oxford City Lions had this to say about Alfee Robbiins:

The Oxford City Lions would like to wish one of their rising stars Alfee Robbins good luck as it is with regret that he has decided to leave the City Lions but quite understandable considering how far he has had to travel for our home matches last season as he doesn't live in Oxford. Just wanted to say on behalf of the entire Oxford City Lions: Thanks Alfee for all you have done, during your time with us you have turned from a rising star to the finished article and we are dreading the day when we see you lining up opposite us as any team will jump at the chance of having you playing for them so I will announce that I have deregistered Alfee so he is free to sign for another national futsal league team now!

Good luck Alfee and let us know how you get on :)



When did you first get involved in Futsal?
My Dad was the Assistant Manager of Kodak FC in the Harrow Youth Football League whom I played for and at that time he decided to go to the Euros in Portugal 2004. When he returned he brought with him a futsal ball and introduced it into our training sessions. Not too long after returning from the EUROs he met Luis Melville of Brentford FC whilst doing an FA Coaching Course and they spoke about futsal extensively which convinced him that futsal was the best way to develop youngsters.

In 2008 we entered the FA National Futsal Tournament Under 14's which was held at E.I.S in Sheffield representing FC Enfield, we reached the final beating Luis’ Brentford FC’s team. Sir Trevor Brooking was there, he presented us with the trophy and complimented our team’s ability. The team was made up of Kodak players and from that squad Luis took Charlie Adams to Brentford FC and he recently signed a professional contract there, Arron Tumwa signed a professional contract for Watford FC and Jamal Lowe made his full debut for Barnet FC last week. Reza Baradan has had spells at a few clubs Academies, Tom Joyce was at MK Dons and our goalkeeper Shiraj Shah has been on the books at Northwood FC.


How did you end up doing a Futsal Scholarship at Reading FC?
I played left midfield for Borehamwood FC’s Under 16's who won the Division B, Pelly Ruddock now of West Ham played centre midfield , and Kyle Connolly 2nd Year scholar played Left Back , Borehamwood asked me to stay on and do the PASE Scheme (Football & Education). However, I noticed that Reading FC were the first club in the country to offer a Futsal scholarship so I decided to go for trials at @Futsal Arena in Swindon and I was offered a place on the scholarship programme. At this time I also had trials at a few other football clubs who were offering the PASE schemes and although they offered me places, I chose the futsal course because I felt it would further my development and help me to play at a higher level later in my life. Even though it meant living away from my family in North West London for two years, I believe the sacrifice was worthwhile. I graduated in July with a BTEC Level 3 and an NVQ. Last year I captained Reading FC’s Under 18's to win the FA Nationals and was awarded Player of The Tournament by the FA, Kevin Coles was our manager.


Where else have you trained?
XSPORT COACHING have some top class coaches, they have helped me improve, for example last month they got Marcos Sorato the Brazillian National Futsal Manager over to do a coaching course which I attended and it was great, I learned a lot from him and I am applying it to my game.


What was your first experience of the National Futsal League?
Having played under the banner of FC Enfield’s youth team and Rob Brasset being very supportive and arranging our entry into tournaments and friendly games I made my debut for FC Enfield in the South Division a week after my 16th birthday.


Why did you join oxford City lions?
I met Lucas Totti on the Reading FC Scholarship and he had joined the newly formed Oxford Lions team in the FA National Futsal League Midlands Division along with Luke Ballinger the England captain who had started coaching at @Futsal arena. Lucas suggested that I come along to training and I signed up.


Did you expect the team to be so successful in their first year?
No, I never imagined we would do that well, we won the Midlands Division which has two well drilled teams in Loughborough & Team Bath. We lost in a close game in the Grand Final to five time’s consecutive winners Helvecia but we also won the Mitto Cup and the Community Shield. Lucas Totti was awarded player of the tournament at the National Grand Finals and at the Mitto Cup, he was very important to the team’s success.


How and when did you get involved in the England setup?
Don Welch from the FA Small Sided Committee had seen me play every year in the national finals and I heard that I and Jamal Lowe had been mentioned to the England Development Manager Michael Skubala then when I joined Oxford Lions Don was at a match and he spoke with my Dad afterwards I think Don put my name forward to Michael and I was invited to the England Development squad training camp.


What did it feel like to make your debut for the England development squad?
It was a day to remember, England played Wales and it was the Welsh national teams first futsal match. It was an amazing feeling to wear the three lions, to stand for the national anthem and to top it all; we won.


How was it stepping up into the England first team squad?
The England Futsal Manager Peter Sturgess has been great he invited me to be a part of the set up at a three day training camp and he has shown faith in me which has boosted my confidence plus the lads have made me feel welcome which has helped me settle in. We trained three times in a day and Daniel Borja does the fitness training and it’s a buzz to be part of it, it’s hard graft but playing with the top players in England has helped raise my game.


Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I was going to enrol at the International Futsal Academy which Michael Skubala is running at Loughborough University but I have had offers of trials at football clubs in Brazil and as I am now 18 this will probably be my last chance to get a professional contract so I am taking a gap year. If I go to Brazil and return without a contract, I will then apply for place at IFA and focus on futsal. I hope to be part of the England setup for many years to come however at present I have just left the Oxford City Lions and I am looking to play for a team in the South Division in London.


Do you think that the standard of futsal has improved in the UK?
Recently I spoke with Kev Coles my old Reading Coach and he said this year forty three clubs are running futsal scholarships which is great as it means that young players will be coached by people who understand the game. The adult league has improved massively and some very good coaches such as Ronaldo of Helvecia, Janio from West London Futsal and James Rosa from London United are respected coaches and bring a lot of experience to their teams in London. The England squad has some top players such as Sam Murphy, Ben Mortlock and Stuart Cook and I hope in the near future that futsal can become a professional sport like it is in Spain, Brazil, and Japan etc. Futsal is an exciting sport to watch, a team could be losing with three minutes to go but still go on to win with tactical changes. Like 20/20 cricket people said that it would not catch on but it’s the most exciting form of cricket and I think futsal can be more exciting than football and Falcao from Brazil is the master of entertainment.









Posted by Mico Martic --> mico.martic@futsalplanet.com