Brunei has been disqualified from the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 (ASEAN zone) qualifiers following FIFA’s continued suspension of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (BAFA).

BAFA was suspended by world football governing body FIFA in September 2009 because of government interference in the affairs of the AFC Member Association.

Brunei’s disqualification will see only three teams battle it out in Group A of the qualification – Australia, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Group B comprises Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The qualifiers kick off on February 20 and all the matches will be played at the Tennis Indoor Stadium in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

The top three teams from the ASEAN zone go through to the Finals, which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May this year.

Hello,

I would write to you whether you would be interested to come participate in the largest international futsal tournament in France.

The tournament takes a lot to me heart, called the International Tournament Futsal Erdre 2010, “Christophe Brisset Tife 2010″, named after my brother died in 2006.

This tournament will be held on 5 and June 6, 2010 at The Chapel On Erdre and Nantes (FRANCE). This will be the 4th edition and it is like previous years to make a great feast of futsal.

But big news in 2010, “Tife” opened also to women!

A true international women’s tournament “parallel” will make a new key and probably a new atmosphere in the stands.

You can see all information on this tournament on this site

http://www.fcerdre.com/
http://www.fcerdre.com/contents/templates/texteTife/texte.php&idTexte=1/ (French version)

A translation in English and Spanish should be online in the next few days for our foreign friends.

But I remain at your disposal for any information.

Sporting friendships.

Sebastien Brisset

FIFA placed futsal as a promotional sport on the programme of the inaugural World Winter Masters Games – the “Olympic” games for recreational athletes.

The FUTSAL tournament will be part of the biggest winter multi-sport event for recreational athletes older than 25, which will take place in Slovenia, between January 25th and January 31st, 2010!

Now everyone can experience the “Olympic” spirit since the registration deadline has been extended so that no one will be left outside the futsal courts.

There are no qualification criteria; all you need to do is register before 24 December 2009. Do not wait for Santa Claus but give yourself a present and register now at registrations.2010mastersgames.com or by e-mail at info@2010mastersgames.com

More info about the World Winter Masters Games can be found at www.2010mastersgames.com

Many Premier League stars attribute their skills to playing Futsal as youngsters and it’s hoped that more Brits will take up the sport. BBC Sport’s Nick Hope investigates at the National Cup finals in Sheffield.

Build up underway for Umbro International Futsal Cup 2009, Manchester UK

Futsal clubs, players and supporters will arrive in Manchester between August 28-30th for what will be the UK’s largest international futsal cup competition. The Umbro International Futsal Cup returns for its second year with a tournament that promises to be bigger and better than ever. Organisers Manchester Futsal Club have been working hard to ensure more international teams will be competing at this year’s tournament and they have not been disappointed with the response.

‘The enquiries this year have exceeded our expectations considering this is only our second year. We can definitely expect a very competitive tournament with some real talent on display. The inclusion of several international clubs will give the English clubs the opportunity to test themselves against established futsal nations which is a fantastic prospect’ explained Tournament Director Simon Wright.

Do you think your club has what it takes to claim the Umbro International Futsal Cup 2009 title?

There is still time to be a part of this fantastic event by entering your club and making the journey to Manchester. Futsal clubs from around the world we welcome you to join us!!

Further details about how to enter can be found at www.umbrofutsal.co.uk or by emailing info@manchesterfutsal.com

Professional futsal is still a young game compared to its eleven-a-side parent but the tactics are evolving all the time.

It’s about Speed, Fast Moves, Tactics, Formations and Defending.

SPEED

Speed is a theme in futsal, as with such a small pitch, no one has long to dwell on the ball.

Equally players have to move fast if they are to find space to receive passes, not least as the ball tends to stay on the ground.

Futsal is widely played in Brazil by children before they concentrate on football, and the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco attribute much of their world-class technique to their grounding in the small-sided game.

“I play futsal and it has helped a lot,” Deco told Uefa.com recently.

“I played from the age of nine until I was 16-years-old when I had to stop to go on with my football career. It improves my speed and dribbling skills.”

FAST MOVES

Goals generally come from swift moves, often involving lightning exchanges of passes, as the goal is small and a defence given time to regroup at the top level will usually be able to keep opponents at bay.

The majority of goals at the very highest level are scored inside the area.

Fouls can also be costly because of the danger of giving away a free-kick without the protection of a wall for offending more than five times in a half.

TACTICS

Coaches are able to make as many substitutions as they like, with higher-tempo teams, like Russian sides, tending to swap players more, even all four outfielders at once.

Teams may utilise a single tactical system, be it a pressing game or a more defensive counterattacking strategy, but the astute use of player rotation can allow a coach several formations depending on the match.

There is also the traditional ending to a tight game when a coach whose team is losing narrowly can take off his goalkeeper and use a fifth outfield player.

FORMATIONS

Formations are more fluid than in football, especially with the success in recent years of the ‘4-0′ system which has grown in popularity due to its use by the exceptional Spanish national side.

Also widely used is the 3-1, which relies on a ‘pivot’ forward to hold the ball after being cleared by the defence, 2-2 – where the players stay close together at all times – or the winger-utilising 1-2-1.

It is a boon for teams to be able to switch to several different formations in varying match situations.

DEFENDING

Over the last few years a zonal marking system has been superseded by man-to-man tactics, which was applauded by FIFA’s technical experts in 2004 as a more dynamic ploy.

As in most sports, though, the most important factor is the individual technique and ability of players, hence the popularity of Brazilians in the European leagues.

Futsal is also being promoted in nations where it has not yet taken off, such as England and France, as a useful tool for honing football skills.

The National Kurukuru Futsal are expected to name their final squad this week in preparation for the Oceania Futsal Championship in Fiji this year.

The Oceania championship will only feature four countries after New Zealand and Tahiti have withdrawn their participation.

The championship is scheduled for July 5-11 and will be hosted in the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Solomon Islands Futsal Development Officer and Kurukuru Team coach Victor Wai’i said 22 players have been undergoing intensive training for the championship.

But the squad will be trimmed to 12 players who will travel to the championship, he said.

Wai’i said the selection of the final squad will coincide with the presence of OFC Futsal Development Officer Scott Gilligan who will be in the country to conduct a Futsal Coaching Clinic under the Win in Oceania project, this month.

“This is just an Oceania Championship which was hosted every year and not a qualifier.

“But it is important for the Kurukuru in their preparation to defend the Oceania title,” he said.

The current training squad comprises of old players who played in last year’s Oceania qualifiers and the World Cup, and some new faces that are recently drafted.

It has been hinted that Kurukuru inspirational captain Elliot Ragomo and key player Jack Whitney are likely to make the final squad.

Their inclusion will pose a threat. Previously, they have earned admiration in Fiji during the Oceania Qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the host Fiji have announced their extended squad that will go into trials ahead of the championship.

Fiji Futsal Secretary told Fijilive Fiji was lacking behind in preparation for the meet and they are trying their best to mould and field a formidable team in the tourney.

“We are facing some problems in assembling the squad and organizing training sessions as the players are scattered around the country and the gymnasium courts booked for other events.”

“It’s a bit difficult in Fiji to have only specific players involved in FUTSAL as all players play full code football therefore their availability for 5-a-side commitments becomes a concern for us.”

“Despite our problems, we had our first training session in Suva yesterday and preparations will
intensify from next week.”

“The southern players will train under coach Intiaz Khan on Tuesdays and Thursdays while the western and northern players in the meantime will be training under the guidance of our development officers.”

“We have a mix of young and experienced players and should be able to form a formidable team for the championship,” added Sukhu.

Foolad Mahan is getting ready to participate in the 2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship, slated for July 4 to 12 in Isfahan’s Pirouzi Stadium.

“We have talked to Falcao’s agent and are looking forward to hearing from him. Foolad is going to win the AFC Futsal Club Championship and we can not waste our time. We will wait for Falcao until the end of next week and if he doesn’t want to join us, we’ll stop trying to buy him,” Foolad Mahan General Manager Ali Taheri said.

Foolad Mahan of Sepahan was drawn in Group A along with Japanese Nagoya Oceans, Stroitel Zarafshan of Uzbekistan, AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek from Kyrgyzstan and Iraq’s Nawrouz.

Alessandro Rosa Vieira, known as Falcão, helped the Brazilian national futsal team win the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup for the 4th time.

He has scored 200 goals in 150 appearances for the national futsal team of Brazil.

The draw for the inaugural edition of the AFC Futsal Club Championship, which will take place at Pirouzi Stadium from July 4 to 12, was held in Esfahan on Wednesday.

The historic draw was overseen by AFC Futsal Committee member Abbas Torabian and held before a packed auditorium at the Aseman Hotel, which included Abarghooii Nejad, the President of the Esfahan Football Federation, Mr. Mossadeghian, Vice President of the Physical Education Board and Mr. Shiran, from Esfahan Province’s Physical Education Board.

The ten participating teams were divided into two groups of five with the winners and runners-up meeting to decide which club will write their name in Asian Futsal history as the first-ever club champions.

Hosts Foolad Mahan, who will be spearheaded by Iran Futsal legend and the sport’s leading international goal scorer Vahid Shamsaee, are in Group A and can expect stiff competition from 2007 and 2008 F.League champions Nagoya Oceans, Iraq’s Nawrouz and the Central Asian duo of Uzbek outfit Stroitel Zarafshan and AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek from Kyrgyzstan.

Group B consists of Thai champions Port Authority, New South Wales Thunder, who defeated ACT Cobras 2-1 to win the 2009 Australian National Futsal Championship, Lebanon’s Pro Café, Chinese hopeful’s Wuhan Dilang and Al Sadd from Qatar.

The NSW Thunder side we will be extremely happy with the draw and looking to progress out of the group phase after avoiding big guns Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) and Nagoya Oceans (JPN).

2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship draw:

Group A

Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)
Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
Nawrouz (IRQ)

Group B

Port Authority (THA)
Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
Pro’s Café (LIB)
Al Sadd (QAT)

2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship match schedule:

4 July
1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)

5 July
1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
1630 Pro’s Café (LIB) v Port Authority (THA)
1900 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

6 July
1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
1630 Port Authority (THA) v Al Sadd (QAT)
1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)

8 July
1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Al Sadd (QAT)
1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)
1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Port Authority (THA)
1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

9 July
1130 Pro’s Café (LIB) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
1400 Port Authority (THA) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
1630 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)

11 July
1630 Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
1900 Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B

12 July
1630 Third-place play-off
1900 Final

All matches to be played at the Pirouzi Stadium, Esfahan. All kick-off times local.

Interviú Madrid won the UEFA Futsal Cup for a record third time with a comfortable final victory against hosts MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg.

Spanish success
Defending the European title, Ekaterinburg had never lost a match in this competition having succeeded on their debut last season. However, by half-time they were 3-0 down to goals from Daniel and Jordi Torrás, plus Schumacher’s penalty. Daniel’s free-kick in the 25th minute produced an immediate response from Konstantin Agapov, but Juanra’s late strike ensured that for the fifth time in the tournament’s eight-year history, the trophy would go to Spain.

Zuev saves
The opening exchanges were tight, but Schumacher – whose two early goals set up Interviú’s 5-0 semi-final defeat of Kairat Almaty – soon threatened, forcing a fine save from Sergei Zuev. Ekaterinburg’s goalkeeper was superb in last year’s final and again on Friday in the tense 2-0 defeat of MFK Dinamo Moskva, and he got his legs in the way of another effort from Schumacher, who, like Daniel and Interviú No1 Luis Amado, was also part of the 2004 and 2006 triumphs.

Daniel strikes
Zuev was beaten when Neto, the other double goalscorer against Kairat, hit the post after an intelligent Daniel cross, and at the other end Konstantin Timoschenkov’s strike suffered the same fate. However, from Daniel’s shot the ball deflected in off the woodwork to give Interviú an eight-minute lead. Zuev prevented a second when he clawed off the line when Amado’s long throw nearly deflected in through his legs off Daniel’s flick.

Lead stretched
However, Interviú’s second goal arrived just before the midway point of the first half, Betão rolling the ball backwards to Torrás, who beat Zuev from a similar angle as Daniel for the first goal. Things got worse for Zuev when he brought down Gabriel in the box and Schumacher gave the keeper no chance with his penalty. Ekaterinburg were stung, but Artem Chudinov did make Amado save not long before the break.

Quickfire goals
The hosts started the second half in high spirits but were vulnerable to the counter and from a typically strong Amado roll, Betão slipped Damir Khamadiev and was only denied by a Zuev stretch. It was 4-0 soon afterwards, though, as Daniel’s free-kick eluded Zuev’s grasp. The Ekaterinburg reponse was immediate; Pavel Chistopolov’s back-heel was lashed in by Agapov.

Clincher
Suddenly the home fans were making themselves heard again, and their players were certainly inspired. However, plenty of Interviú’s squad have experience of big international finals for club and country, and proved adept at repelling the Ekaterinburg attacks, not to mention breaking at speed as when Ortiz made Zuev save again. Ekaterinburg’s spirit did not let up, but neither did Interviú’s determination, and with two minutes left, and Alexei Mokhov on as a flying goalkeeper for the hosts, Juanra stole the ball and rolled it into an empty net. Betão hit the crossbar with a double penalty, but victory was long sealed, moving Interviú one title ahead of the only other multiple winners, Spanish rivals Playas de Castellón FS.

26/4/2009 Final : Interviú Madrid 5-1 Ekaterinburg (Report)

Third Place Play-off : Kairat 1-0 Dinamo Moskva (Report)

Semi-finals : Kairat 0-5 Interviú Madrid (Report)
Ekaterinburg 2-0 Dinamo Moskva (Report)

Source : UEFA.com
By : Paul Saffer
Published : 26/4/2009