FUTSAL: A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME FOR GOA

Mr. Benjamin Silva (President, Futsal Association of Goa), (Centre) Mr. Peter Coutinho (Secretary, Futsal Association of Goa), Mr. Anthony Dias (Promoter for Futsal), Mr Joao Rebello (Coaching Director, Futsal Association of Goa), Mr. Kevin Fernandes (Managing Officer Futsal Association of Goa) and Blaine Fernandes, (Administrative Head FAG) at the Futsal Championship 2016 press conference held at a city hotel in Panjim recently.

PANJIM:  A total cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and the Winner’s Trophy is up for grabs in the Futsal Championship 2016, the launch event of the Futsal Association of Goa (FAG), being held from 14th to 18th November in North and South Goa simultaneously.

The announcement was made by the Futsal Association of Goa at the Press meet held at a City hotel in Panjim on Saturday. 

Futsal Championship 2016, a Five-a-Side form of football played indoors with specialised equipment and rules will witness 16 teams clash for top honours with the winners of the Mega Finals being awarded cash prize of Rs. 60,000 and the trophy while the Runners-Up will take home Rs. 40,000 and the trophy.

The Futsal Championship 2016 will be played at Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim and Fr. Agnel Ashram, Basketball court, Verna with matches beginning from 6:30pm onwards with four matches being played from 14^th to 18^th November. The semi-finals will be played on 17^th November at both the venues at 8pm with Group A toppers playing Group B toppers. The Mega Finals will be held at Fr. Agnel Ashram, Basketball court, Verna on the 18^th with winners of North Goa playing winners of South Goa with the match kicking off at 8pm. 

The Futsal Championship will also make special mention of the Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Player of the Tournament and Player of the Match (for all matches) and honour them accordingly.

The Futsal Championship 2016, the birth of a domestic Futsal league represents the opening gambit in the Futsal Association of Goa’s drive to educate the youth and produce great players not only in Futsal but also in football.

The Five-A-Side game gained rapid popularity throughout India at the Premier Futsal League 2016 earlier this year. Going forward, Futsal Association of Goa looks to boost Futsal fever in Goa with the belief that it would benefit the future of Goan Football.

"Let us together try to inculcate the interest of Futsal in our kids, so we continue to produce more and more players for Indian football team," said Benjamin Silva, Chief Guest and President of Futsal Association of Goa (FAG).

The skill developed in this game is visible in the world-famous style the Brazilians display outdoors on the full-sized field. Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto and other Brazilian superstars developed their skill playing Futsal. 

With the league's opening fixtures taking place at Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim and Fr. Agnel Ashram, Basketball court, Verna, 16 teams from all Goa will embark on a 5-day tussle to determine Goa’s best Futsal side. But in revealing how tailored forerunner tournaments, such as the Premier Futsal League 2016 had been held this year to identify potential interest in Futsal, Benjamin Silva, President of FAG , wants more.

Benjamin, whose eyes light up at the merest mention of the game, is already dreaming of expansion: a national team, school competitions, even bringing a Futsal World Cup to Goa shores. Nothing falls outside his realms of possibility.

“Futsal is not so popular in Goa. But we are attempting to widen its base in Goa. All our member are eager to develop Futsal. During my early days I played football. I loved Football. I believe that through Futsal we can promote football at the highest level. This is just the beginning of a new chapter. I wish everybody who loves football should be a part of Futsal. Through Futsal we can make big players. I appeal to parents and all to support this event,” said Benjamin at the Press meet .

“We first begin with the school programmes. We have spoken to the Sports Department and we plan to have training for coaches. Our main programme is grass root development of Futsal. Currently we are looking out for grounds. We may start using the schools grounds. Maybe we will have to go the school halls but that is how we will start,” informed Mr. Peter Coutinho (Secretary, Futsal Association of Goa).

Mr. Kevin Fernandes (Managing Officer Futsal Association of Goa) presented the official Futsal ball and trophies to Mr Benjamin Silva and the teams jerseys were unveiled with all teams posing with the members of the association.

The Futsal Association of Goa is registered under Futsal Association of India and AMF (Association Mundial De Futsal, the governing body of Futsal). Futsal Association of Goa is backed by Sports Authority of Goa and Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.