Source: Manchester Futsal Club Press

HUNDREDS OF youngsters made their way to the National Cycling Centre last weekend to take part in our first ever Youth Futsal Tournament.

Players aged from 8-12 showed off their flair, skills and sublime technique in front of the watching crowd as our first tournament progressed throughout the day without a hitch.

There were goals galore as the young fledglings showed off their undoubted talent, and perhaps the only disappointment of the day was that it did not last for longer.

Many of the players had already experienced futsal first hand going into the tournament, whether it was at one of our popular Youth Futsal Training camps, our ever growing Futsal Development Centres or in a training session with their respective junior football team.

“We’ve been doing a lot futsal-based stuff,” said Barr Hill Diamonds coach Pete Wilde, speaking after the tournament on Sunday, “but we’ve also got sessions on a Sunday and a Friday as well. But it’s the Manchester Futsal Club guys who are so dedicated to bringing up the youth in futsal and it’s really good.

“It’s been really good fun,” continued Wilde, whose side won the U10s section. “It was a really well-organised tournament from Manchester Futsal Club and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of it. I’d certainly play more of these tournaments if there were a couple more organised.”

The future looks bright for futsal with more players choosing to becoming involved at grass-roots level, believing futsal and football can be intertwined and benefit from one another rather than being seen as separate entities.

European and South American children grow up in a culture where futsal is the norm and helps hone their technical ability before making the transition to 11-a-side football. Several football clubs across the continent use futsal as a tool at youth level to help instil the devastating short passing game that has become synonymous with Barcelona over recent years. With this in mind, now may be the perfect time for English clubs to follow suit.

“I’ve had these guys doing futsal or Brazilian football for three years so we’re not new to it,” said Atherton Town Storm coach Stephen Bell. “Maybe some of the players individually but the majority of the kids aren’t.

“It’s a small-sided game, you have to pass and move,” continued Bell, whose saw his U10s side clinch victory in their respective final. “I wasn’t really interested about the goals they scored I just wanted to see what they did, what they carried on from training over the past couple of weeks and that’s what it’s all about.

“My hats off to Ilya Ovechkin and his gang, because for a first-time tournament as well I think they’ve done really, really well.”

Former Manchester Futsal Club Head Coach Marcos Leon was at the tournament as part of Stalybridge Celtic’s coaching staff, otherwise known as Sala Sports. The Spaniard is a firm favourite with the youngsters because of his futsal background and the knowledge that he can provide.

“We teach the skills [of futsal] which will help to improve the person as a football player,” said Leon, who guided Manchester to a first ever FA National Futsal League title in 2012. “It’s a small-sided game which at the end of the day is better for the future development of the player and that’s what we keep working at.

“The main thing is that not many people are teams know about futsal,” continued Leon. “So with teams like us who have been working with futsal for a long time ago and we can see the improvement in the teams that have come here and haven’t played so much of the game.”

The standard of play on show was phenomenal for players of such a young age, with one youngster scoring arguably the Goal of the Tournament when he deftly brought the ball down on his knee, completed a string of ‘keepy uppies’ before lashing the ball into the top corner.

The players on display last weekend are the future. Given the correct coaching and nurturing there is little doubt how far they will go. The only question that remains: Will it be a professional football career, or will they be pulling on the coveted Three Lions shirt while representing England in a major futsal tournament? Only time will tell.

The future is bright. The future is futsal.





FP Staff --> info@futsalplanet.com