Latin-style football in Hutt Valley

BY SIMON EDWARDS

Hutt Valley footballers keen to hone ball skills and be assured of a game that's never ruined by a poor pitch or weather could try Futsal.

Futsal is the abbreviation of the phrase "futebol de salao" (Portuguese) or "futbol sala" (Spanish). It means soccer in a large room, and a new league based in the Heretaunga College gym is starting later this month.

Futsal originated in Brazil, with many players and coaches there crediting the 5-aside indoor game on a basketball-size court as the reason that nation has so many highly skilled players. Futsal is now huge at professional and amateur levels in Europe, the Americas and other pro-football countries, and has its own Fifa World Cup.

A league has been operating in Wellington for 18 months, with senior and junior teams. It's so popular that venues in Newtown and Thorndon are running out of space.

Heretaunga College old boy Michael Glensor played in Newtown and was struck by the number of Hutt players travelling to be in the team there. He decided it was high time something was developed for Futsal fans out here.

Glensor says there are three main types of futsalers  social players; the hard core ('futsoul') who only play the indoor game; and regular footballers who use futsal off-season, for fitness or to improve skills.

At the national futsal tournament last November (an Auckland side beat a Capital team in the final), Glensor's team of established outdoor footballers won two of their four games. "But when you come up against futsal-specific sides, you really notice the difference."

Futsal comprises 15-20 minute halves played at pace, and rolling subs are important. In the successful teams the goalie is often out of his box helping with attacks.

Glensor says a futsal ball has only 60 per cent of the bounce of a soccer ball. So the game isn't about slapping it across the field in long kicks. It tends to stay much closer to players' feet, so ball control and smart passing are important. Techniques include flicking the ball for height and speed.

The ball tends to stay grounded, and a small number of players in a small area, demands quick decision-making and movement on and off the ball. This guarantees every player is involved.

Glensor says at least six teams are needed for the senior league to be launched on February 22. He's also approached College Sport with the idea of getting secondary school teams going in the Valley. A junior league could follow.

An advantage of the new league is that it will be Fifa, NZ Football, Capital Football and Capital Futsal-affiliated. Hutt players who want to can take part in a tournament in Palmerston North at the end of March.

"This league will be a pathway to regional, national and World Cup [tournaments]."

There were four Wellington players in the NZFusalWhites in 2007 for the Oceania qualifiers for the 2008 Fifa Futsal World Cup.

Glensor says the Heretaunga College gym is a perfect venue, with a non-slip playing surface and good light

- Hutt News