Courtesy: Global Times


Indoor soccer to kick off in 200 colleges

24/10/2012

by Gong Yu

The 2012-13 university indoor soccer season, hosted by Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) and the Chinese Football Association, gets underway in December, the organizing committee announced at a press conference held in Beijing on Wednesday.

Known widely as futsal, indoor soccer is run by the China College Futsal League (CCFL).

CCFL is the only official league for college futsal, representing the highest level of the sport in China. Started in 2003, the fast-past, five-aside game has become one of the most popular sports on Chinese college campuses, according to the organizing committee.

The new season will involve teams from over 200 colleges in 15 provinces that will compete over the next seven months in regional qualifiers, north-and-south divisions, and national finals. Under this season's slogan "Play My Game," the CCFL plans to emphasize entertainment and interactivity at the games.

"With widespread participation on campuses, futsal has becomes an important sport for Chinese college students," said Yang Liguo, secretary general of FUSC.

"The league can enrich campus cultural life and also play a significant role in the promotion of China's outdoor soccer."

Unlike outdoor soccer, futsal is played on an indoor court about the size of a hockey rink. The game is fast and features many goals and scoring chances.

Hubei University, the defending champion, played for China in the 13th World University Futsal Championship in Braga, Portugal, in September and finished eighth.






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