Courtesy: Marlborough Express


Futsal brings cultures together

They're Brazil, I'm Norn Iron

by Ian Allen

Back home, in sunny Northern Ireland, football fans chant at their opponents, "We're not Brazil, we're Norn Iron".

It's our way of "slegging" (slagging) a team for underestimating the mighty "green and white army".

I've adapted the popular terrace song for Friday night futsal, or indoor soccer, in Marlborough.

Every week about 20 South Americans gather at the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 to show off their silky samba skills.

I started playing with them late last year and it's become the highlight of my week.

Little do they know, though, that every time I score I quietly sing to myself, "They're Brazil, I'm Norn Iron".

The weekly game was somewhat of a revelation at first - they all play with a smile on their face.

I used to play indoor football every Friday with workmates in Belfast.

Let's just say the language was colourful and tempers flared. In saying that, all was forgotten by the changing rooms. That's how we play.

Here though, I've been getting a lesson in South American poise, not to mention footballing flair.

Brazilian Marcello Pinheiro, of Rio de Janeiro, organises the weekly get-together and said futsal was about having fun.

"I want to win but I don't see the point of going if you don't enjoy yourself," he said. "I might do a trick or pull somebody's shorts down to get a smile out of them. My wife came along once and said, ‘Why do you talk so much?' It's about catching up with friends."

Their samba philosophy is infectious but I still struggle not to kick an ankle or two.

Especially when someone, nonchalantly, flicks the ball over my head.

I lash out and immediately regret it. I feel like a fat kid on a diet who just ate two Big Macs.

But it felt so good.

Friday night futsal is a great way of meeting people, too.

Although predominantly South American - with players from Brazil, Argentina and Chile - the teams are sprinkled with French, Spanish and Germans.

"We all learn something from each other and you get to see the different styles [of playing futsal]," Pinheiro said.

Unfortunately, in Marlborough, players come and go.

"I wish we could get more Kiwis."

Pinheiro has been living in New Zealand for seven years and wants to develop a Marlborough Futsal Club.

It would include futsal training for children, social futsal on Friday nights and tournaments against the likes of Nelson, Christchurch and Wellington, where the sport has already taken off.

In 2011, New Zealand Football funded the purchase of futsal equipment in Nelson. It saw the sport as a way of developing young players.

Top Brazilian footballers honed their skills playing futsal, Pinheiro said.

"It's a smaller area, you touch the ball maybe five times more than 11-a-side. It's fast and you have to play as a team," he said.

"If you don't have precise passing or know where your team-mate is, you won't become a great player."

Pinheiro wants to team up with Marlborough Football to help develop young players in the region.

"If you want to become good players, and maybe play professionally, you need to play every day. You need to have the passion to play all year. When you have passion, no matter what the sport is, you get better."

A new season of Friday night futsal kicked off on Friday. Players can either turn up or contact Pinheiro on 021 0234 7975.






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