futsal world magazine

INSIDE THIS ISSUE INTERVIEWS WITH... Ben Mortlock Agon Rexha Rob Ursell Marc Birkett Periklies Antoniou Daniel Berdejo-del-Fresno Damon Shaw

ISSUE ONE!

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLISH FUTSAL?

FUTSAL FITNESS

BRITS ABROAD

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FUTSAL WORLD CONTENTS

Futsal World Magazine Issue One

INTERVIEWS BEN MORTLOCK p3 England and Helvecia star on all things futsal

AGON REXHA p11 England and FC Benago player on playing abroad

ROB URSELL p13 On playing abroad and why he’s quit England

DOUG REED p15 On being the first Englishman to play in Spain

PERIKLIES ANTONIOU p19 Interview on winning the FA Cup and what’s next

MARC BIRKETT p25 The lowdown on being a futsal referee

DAMON SHAW p7 On his plans for Boro and more

FEATURES WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLISH FUTSAL? p5 A look at the state of the English National leagues

FUTSAL FITNESS p23 An article on futsal specific fitness by Daniel Berdejo-del-Fresno

WELSH FUTSAL p17 A look at the growing futsal scene in Wales

FUTSAL WORLD CUP p27 A look at the new nations trying to make it to Thailand

ABOVE: Agon Rexha in action for England BELOW: Rob Ursell on international duty

Ben Mortlock has been one of the stand-out English players in the FA National Futsal Leagues for a number of years now. He is now a regular in the England set-up and is improving year on year. Futsal World caught up with Ben to ask him about all things futsal…

Futsal World Magazine Issue One Page 3

FUTSAL WORLD INTERVIEW

Mortlock in action for England

Interview by Niall McGlone How did you first get into futsal? I first got into futsal through the Sunday league team I played for in Grimsby in 2005 called Discoveries Magpies. We entered a futsal league and played on a Tuesday night on astroturf and qualified for the FA futsal cup just by winning our local league so it shows how much the sport has progressed since then.

You’ve played for numerous clubs before ending up at Helvecia, how did that move come about? I have played against Helvecia a few Hmes and when I told a mate of mine who played for them, Rob Ursell, that I was moving to London this year he told the coach Ronaldo and when Ronaldo rang me to ask me if I would be interested in playing I was never going to say no to playing for the 4 Hmes naHonal champions.

Has it been hard to se=le into the squad given that the majority of the players are Brazilian? Have you noBced a difference in style from your previous clubs? Not at all, there really is a family atmosphere at the club including a standing ovaHon on your first training session. The lads have included me in the group as if I have been playing there for years. The style of futsal is slightly different as all of the players have played futsal since they were very young and have their own way of playing which I have had to adjust to. Where as the other clubs I have been at, parHcularly when I was at Middlesbrough years ago now, we were learning how to play and it was maybe more structured. But I think all the top clubs now play very aRacking futsal and have their own style, which can be just as effecHve, and it just depends who plays best on the day.

When did you receive your first England call‐up and how did it make you feel to represent you country? I received my first England call up along with my close friend and ever present futsal teammate CurHs Holmes for the 4 NaHons tournament in Loughborough. I had been in the squad for a few months before following a successful trial. Although I did play for Great Britain universiHes in 2006 under Graeme Dell. It felt amazing to play my first match for my country and I sHll get the same buzz when I put on the England shirt. I was at Middlesbrough prior to both appearances for GB and England, and Damon Shaw (Middlesbrough manager) put me up for the trials on both occasions so I owe him a lot.

Where would you like to see futsal in England in the next 5 years? What needs to be done to improve and grow the sport in England? I think its realisHc for it to be semi‐professional in 5 years. It needs a big name to get involved from football like Zidane did in France to make it more popular but mainly it needs money. I think there are enough people working hard to promote the sport but unfortunately without money its hard to really promote the sport and improve parHcipaHon. I also think parHcipaHon of the women’s and youth game needs to be increased, I think if the sport could increase parHcipaHon of women and children internaHonally and improve its infrastructure it could soon become an Olympic sport.

Do you believe the FA do enough to support futsal in England? I think the people whose job it is to promote futsal in the FA are doing all they can. They are working hard to promote the sport and keep it developing. Unfortunately I don’t think the FA can put as much money into it because it is not as popular as 11 a side or 5 a side and because of the revenue those sports bring in compared to futsal at the minute that wont change.

Can you see the naBonal team qualifying for a major tournament in the near future? I think the next step for the naHonal team is to progress through the preliminary stage of the next World Cup or Euro qualifiers. I think that’s very possible, but I think it will take another couple of years before the team is on Eurosport. There seems to be a big gap between the top 20 teams and the rest. If there was a professional league in England I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible for us to be up there though.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to play futsal in England? Just get involved with your local club. I think there are enough now for no one to be too far away from an acHve naHonal league club, and the more people playing futsal, the faster the sport will grow.

Do you have any personal aspiraBons as a futsal player? Would you be interested in playing abroad if the opportunity came up? At the moment as a player I just want to do as well as I can for Helvecia and England. It would be great to be part of an England team which makes it past the preliminary round for the first Hme, which I think is possible at the next qualifiers. I would have to see what the offer was before I considered moving abroad but I know Rob (Ursell), Doug (Reed), Agon (Rexha) and MaRy Wooton have all done it and have enjoyed it and have all improved a`er doing it so why not.

Thanks to Ben Mortlock for taking the time to answer these questions…

Mortlock taking on Greece


With the number of teams playing futsal growing each year and with the addiBon of a second Ber in 2012, what’s next for futsal in England?

The naHonal futsal leagues have come a long way since their incepHon, but does this growth now need to move faster?

The suggesHon of one naHonal league is something that has been menHoned by various people on message boards and groups across the internet for a number of years. There are several pros and cons to the idea.

The idea is that the naHonal league would be made up of the 12 best teams from the three regional divisions, taking four from each league and placing them in the newly formed naHonal league. The fairest way to select the teams would be based on performance and points totals, therefore the top four teams from each division would join the naHonal league. The remainder of the teams would then form the regional second divisions, with promoHon and relegaHon between each leagues.

But why make a naHonal league?

It can be argued that there are four ‘top’ teams in each regional division, each with the chance of making the play‐offs come the end of the season. One of the major problems is the high scores seen in games between those teams at the top of the table and those towards the boRom. It is clear to see that there is a large gulf between teams compeHng in the same division, which can damage the image and credibility of the league. Imagine been an outsider who is new to futsal, looking at some of the high scoring one sided games does not promote a good imagine for what is ulHmately the top level of futsal in England.

A naHonal league would create beRer compeHHon between all the teams compeHng as in theory it should be the 12 best teams in the country playing against each other every week.

One of the major concerns that regularly arises when the formaHon of a naHonal league is discussed is the increased costs. Travel costs would increase should teams as far as Middlesbrough be playing in London. Many of the teams in the Southern League are based within London, therefore travel is rather limited and not a major logisHcal or financial problem.

However, with the formaHon of one naHonal league, surely that concept would be come more viable for sponsors to become involved with. The standards and image of the teams involved would grow and with it so will futsal in England.

We just need to make that first step…

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLISH FUTSAL?

FUTSAL WORLD ARTICLE



How did you first get into futsal? I started by running a 5‐a‐side tournament and looked into growing that and discovered futsal, The FA Futsal Cup had a pathway into European compeHHon and then I set up Teesside University Futsal Club and Middlesbrough 2 years later.

Why did you decide to start Middlesbrough Futsal Club? We had some success as Teesside but it would be limited in terms of reaching out to the local community, so Middlesbrough was the natural step for futsal in the area and it's proven a good move. Teesside is sHll successful, but we'd never get the fans or juniors involved as much as we can with Middlesbrough as our name.

What were your aims for the club when you first started out? I want Middlesbrough to be the best club in Europe and a team the town can be proud to follow. I also aim to do this with homegrown talent as the focus of the club.

What are your future plans for the club? Right now we are working on a strong academy and that will be the focus of the club for the next few years. I want to get the town behind us more with a bigger fan base and more people involved in the running of the club. Of course we want to turn pro and play in a full on naHonal league as well and generally lead the way with what we do on and off the pitch.

Interview by Niall McGlone As well as being the manager, you also organise a lot of acBviBes behind the scenes with transfers, travel, media, the website etc. How important is that to you and the club? Yeah I do a lot more than just run the team. It's a lot of work but it's so important for the club to have a presence. It has all led to us being able to aRract top players, sponsors and supporters and it all comes together nicely to grow a real presence in the town and naHonally.

How important do you think it is for teams like yourself to bring in foreign players to improve squads? Foreign players who have played futsal all their life, such as Ernesto Casan and Marc Caballeria who are both Spanish have added a lot of quality to our team, but we are sHll predominantly English based. The English boys, who are all young will learn so much from the Spaniards and will improve a lot because of it.

I wouldn't want or recommend to bring in a full team of foreigners and they have to make a big commitment themselves in moving here and seRling here so it takes the right sort of character as well. There's no doubt Ernesto and Marc have had a big influence on the team this year, but the likes of Mikey Roberts and Theo Furness have been just as important. The team as a whole has been a good mixture this season.

You seem to be one of the most forward thinking figures in English futsal and you are not afraid to voice your opinions on the state of futsal in England, what are your opinions on the standards of the game here? >>>

Damon Shaw (centre)


“In five years we should have a full on naHonal league, semi pro, with TV deals in place”

There is a long way to go, but compared to five years ago the standard is so much beRer now. What's more important is the teams are compeHHve with each other and there are far too many teams way behind the top 6 or 7.

Where would you like to see futsal in England in the next 5 years? What needs to be done to improve and grow the sport in England? We have to go naHonal, even if it's just 6 teams who are ready, I'd rather play Manchester 4 Hmes a season than, no offence intended, East Coast, Crewe and Liverpool, which in the current state of the game are not compeHHve. In five years we should have a full on naHonal league, semi pro, with TV deals in place, but only if we go naHonal next season. This will benefit the 2nd Her teams as well and they will improve at their own pace. It's much like England not playing the likes of Spain and Brazil each week, it would be detrimental to the image of the game... imagine approaching a sponsor and saying your last result was a 27‐0 defeat.. nobody will touch the sport...

Do you believe the FA do enough to support futsal in England? No, not at all. And that's not Simon Walker, it's the FA as a whole. Futsal isn't in their prioriHes at all and Simon does preRy much all the futsal work for The FA, which isn't enough.

Can you see the naBonal team qualifying for a major tournament in the near future? They are gekng closer to exiHng the preliminary round, but we are a long way off any progress into an actual tournament. That said, if the FA do what they should and host the World Cup in 2016 then yes we will qualify as hosts.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years Bme? What aspiraBons do you have as a futsal manager? I'll sHll only be 33 in five years and will have had 12 years in the game. I want to get as much experience in Europe as possible and even spend a season in the Spanish league if commitments in England allow. I am not planning too far ahead, but I will see what each year brings and what opportuniHes come up. I'll keep on studying the game and working to build a big club in Boro.

Thanks to Damon Shaw for taking the time to do this interview…


Shaw (far right) with his Boro team



With professional or semi‐professional futsal in England nothing more than a pipedream at the moment, some players have moved abroad for the opportunity to be paid to play futsal. Futsal World caught with three English players currently plying their futsal trade abroad, we talked to them to find out what its like to play professional futsal as an Englishman.

“If there are players out there who really want to be playing futsal for a living and trying to get to the top. It’s definitely a good idea to be playing in higher and more experienced leagues abroad.” – Agon Rexha

by Niall McGlone

Rob Ursell in action In Cyprus



A few seasons ago Doug Reed became the first Englishman to play professional futsal in Spain when he signed for Lanzarote. Reed now plays in CroaHa a`er a season Cyprus where you will find Rob Ursell making a name for himself. Ursell is a former footballer who used to play for now football league side AFC Wimbledon before making the transiHon into professional futsal

Agon Rexha’s brief Hme playing futsal has already seen him travel the world and he is now playing professionally in the Czech Republic at FC Benago.

FutsalWorld speaks to all three to find out how they came to be playing abroad, how it differs from English futsal and should more English players play abroad.

Here is what they had to say >>>

Rexha playing for FC Benago


How did you get into Futsal? I entered a tournament in Basildon which was organised by Greg Reagan 4 years ago. IniHally it was just for a bit of fun with a few friends. I’ve also liked small sided football so I thought I would try futsal. From there I joined Kickers where I learnt a lot about futsal and the basics of it from an experienced Brazilian coach and also some ex‐professionals that were there at the Hme. I then joined up with Spartans which was my last club in England.

How did the move to FC Benago come about? The move came about in the summer of last year when I was playing in Kosovo for FC Besa for couple months where we became champions of Kosovo. I was approached by FC Benago and then went from there had a trial and then signed a one year contract with them.

Is moving abroad to play futsal something you would encourage other English players do? Yes defiantly. If there are players out there who really want to be playing futsal for a living and trying to get to the top. It’s definitely a good idea to be playing in higher and more experienced leagues abroad.

How does futsal in the Czech Republic differ from futsal in England? The Czech league is one of the best in Europe, it’s in the top 6 best leagues in Europe so there’s a lot of good players from different countries and there are also a few pro teams who train everyday like my team FC Benago. The league itself is very well organised. There is TV coverage someHmes of the games.

I’ve played a couple of matches that were live on Czech TV which shows the interest the sport has in this country.

The futsal is more tacHcal here and you have lot of experience players that know the game really well which is a big plus for me as I can learn a lot from them.

How did your first call‐up to the England naBonal team come about? What did it mean to you to be picked to represent your country? My first call up was just when I started to play futsal really. I was recommended by Greg Reagan and I got the call and obviously I was over the moon to have the chance to play at internaHonal level.

“I wish I had known about futsal when I was younger” Can you see the naBonal team qualifying for a major tournament in the near future? Yeah definitely, the naHonal team has improved so much in the last 4 years, which is fantasHc for us all and I hope in the near future we do qualify for a major tournament, which will make history and would be an amazing achievement.

I think there is sHll a lot to be done in the naHonal team though, perhaps more training camps or some sort of incenHve for more players to be interested in futsal. >>>

Rexha gets stuck in for FC Benago


What do you think needs to be done to improve and grow futsal in England? I think futsal is gekng more popular every year in England. There are a lot of established teams now in England which is great and they are working really hard to improve their clubs and also to promote the sport in their communiHes which is important. Also working with the youth players and introducing Futsal in primary schools would be a massive step in my opinion. It’s so important that you learn the basics of the game at a young age. I wish I had known about futsal when I was younger than when I started playing.

“I would love to play in the Spanish league, which for me is the best league in the world” Do you believe the FA do enough to support futsal in England? I think the FA do support futsal but I think there is a lot more they can do and must do for the sport to progress which also means the naHonal team can go on and also get beRer. It’s not easy but if we really want the naHonal leagues in England to progress we need the FA to be working harder and invesHng more into the sport.

What personal aspiraBons do you have as a futsal player? Where do you see yourself in the near future? I am here unHl May and then I might stay another year or maybe move to another country. I would love to play in the Spanish league, which for me is the best league in the world so it would be a dream to play there. I’ve had interests from other clubs as well so we will see what happens at the end of the season.

Thanks to Agon Rexha for taking the time to do this interview…

Rexh relaxing with his Benago teammates



You used to play football for AFC Wimbledon and various clubs before playing futsal, how did you first get into futsal? I got a phone call from AFC Wimbledon's secretary telling me that then manager Graeme Dell had called me up for two away games in Belgium. So I went along to the games not knowing anyone in the squad, or even the rules!

How does playing futsal differ from football? The percepHon that futsal is all about tricks is so wrong. Obviously with it being a small sided game you get a lot more touches of the ball and there is more of a requirement to be comfortable with the ball in Hght spaces. It requires more thought to open up a defence in futsal, and defensively you have to cope with opposing players with more intelligent movement

How did your move to Cyprus come about? I played in Dublin for England against Cyprus and the two Cypriot players playing for Ararat, then the top team in Cyprus, tried to get the club to sign me. It didn't happen for about 10 months but eventually they invited me over to train for a week and then signed me

How does futsal in Cyprus compare to the game in England? It's a different level. Obviously it's professional and teams are looking to sign foreign players and pay them so it’s where the English league would like to eventually get to. My old team Ararat got to the last 16 in the UEFA Cup last year, that shows the difference between the leagues currently. The English league is sHll very new in comparison though.

Is moving abroad to play futsal something you would encourage or recommend other English players to do? Definitely. With the level of the English league at the moment,

I think there's only so much you can learn. When I first went to Cyprus I struggled badly defending against quality internaHonals every week. Also I was playing only with my talent when I first went to Cyprus, but now I feel like I know the game preRy well. Doug Reed and Agon Rexha are the other two English players playing abroad and I think it definitely shows when you see them play, how far they've come. I know by comparing my performances when I first arrived at Ararat to now that it has improved me hugely.

What do you think needs to be done to improve and grow futsal in England? At least some coverage on TV is needed. Preferably the FA would use a big name like Beckham if and when they do eventually get some exposure to the game. France used Zidane in this way and it was the first Hme in my years of playing for England that there's been a packed stadium and a good atmosphere.

Do you believe the FA do enough to support futsal in England? I think people like Simon Walker who is in charge of small‐sided football for the FA do all they can. However I don't think they are backed by the people higher up. The budget for futsal is Hny compared to what it should be. We must be one of the only countries who play with no win bonus or no pay. Obviously the players don't do it for that but it would be nice to have an even playing field. Also I know for a fact it would aRract beRer players. But not just money for the players, every aspect of futsal in England needs more investment. It's ridiculous that an organisaHon as big as the FA has not made sure there is an FA Futsal Cup this year. It should be gekng bigger and more presHgious, not decreasing in size over the last couple of years unHl it just doesn't happen this year.

Ursell playing for Helvecia


What does it mean to you to represent your country at futsal? Er...touchy subject! Pete Sturgess recently called me to tell me he wasn't selecHng me for the Switzerland games and I have since told him I wouldn't play for him again. It's frustraHng because there are players that could form a good team. My enjoyment has diminished over the last year or so with all the things going wrong. He's le` out talented players with experience and brought in less talented players with less experience. This is not sour grapes. I'm talking about things that have been happening regularly way before I was le` out. We have 3 English professional futsal players, he's now dropped all of them, Doug (Reed) gekng back in recently because he got player of the tournament at the FA Cup last year.

Can you see the naBonal team qualifying for a major tournament in the near future? Not in the near future. I've told Pete how I feel. I respect him as a person, he is a good man. He's picking players with good physical characterisHcs but ignoring the importance of intelligence, composure, and decision making. His aim seems to be to keep the score down, and to be honest maybe the players he favours are the right ones to do this. However, you are not going to beat decent teams by allowing them the ball for 30‐35 minutes of the game. The team needs to be much beRer at keeping the ball under pressure. We need a coach who knows the game. From personal experience I learned a lot when the FA brought in Mico MarHc to help coach us. With someone like him in charge or even Ronaldo at Helvecia, or Peri at Cardiff the team would make huge strides in a short space of Hme.

What personal aspiraBons do you have as a futsal player? Where do you see yourself in the near future? Firstly, with my club this year I'd like to win the Cup in Cyprus. Omonoia have won every game in the league and will be champions soon, so it's a tall order to beat them but that's my personal target for this season. Medium term, I would like to progress through the first round of the UEFA Futsal Cup next season (with whichever team I end up playing for) and long term I would love to play for England again but that one is out of my hands, it would require a change of manager!

Thanks to Rob Ursell for taking the time to do this interview…

Ursell playing for England vs Cyprus


‘I’ve told him I won’t play for him again‘ Ursell on England boss Pete Sturgess

Ursell in football action for AFC Wimbledon


How did you first get into Futsal? I became aware of futsal around the 2006 Football World Cup when there were some adverts that featured futsal. I had always played a lot of 5‐a‐side and really enjoyed it so I decided to get involved in futsal.

Fortunately Manchester Futsal Club had just been founded near the university I was aRending so I contacted them and that was my first team.

A few years ago you became the first English player to play in Spain. How did your transfer to Lanzarote Tias Yaiza happen? A friend of mine, Pablo de Oliveira, was due to play for a Spanish team in a friendly tournament in Switzerland. Unfortunately he got injured and I took his place. The coach of that team asked if I would like to play in Spain and he spoke to a coach he knew. From there I was offered a professional contract for Lanzarote.

How was your Bme in Spain? How did it differ from the futsal that you were used to playing in England? I really enjoyed my Hme in Spain. Futsal was a much higher level than England, especially as the league in England had just begun. In every aspect it was more demanding, even physically, but most noHceably the intelligence of the players.

A]er that you moved to Cyprus, how did that move come about? My England teammate Rob Ursell had just signed for AEL Limassol. I asked him to speak to the club for me and they asked me to come.

How was your Bme in Cyprus and how did the culture and futsal compare to England and Spain? Cyprus was a nice experience especially with having Rob there. The weather was a parHcular highlight and the food was good. Being a professional league the level was higher than England though the game is not as developed there as in Spain.

You then moved to CroaBa, which is where you are now, how did you end up in CroaBa? My coach here is Mico MarHc. He is one of the top coaches around and I knew him through his work with the England naHonal team a couple of years ago. He asked me if I would like to come.

When he coached us with England he helped us progress so much and we all enjoyed learning from him. Individually he helped me improve a lot as a player so I thought it would be a great opportunity to work alongside him again.

Is moving abroad to play futsal something you would encourage other English players do? I have found my experience worthwhile. The English League is gekng stronger but with it not being professional it is sHll not at the level of the leagues that are. Everyone has their own commitments so it down to down to each individual's circumstances whether they decide to do it.

How did your first call‐up to the England naBonal team come about? What did it mean to you to be picked to represent your country?

Reed playing for Manchester


Manchester Futsal Club recommended me for a trial and I was successful and started training with the England squad. It was fantasHc to represent England as it something I had always wanted to do and I sHll get the same amazing feeling when I play for England now.

What do you think needs to be done to improve and grow futsal in England? I think that the clubs need to improve their structures and organisaHon. The only two that I am aware of that seem to be doing this are Manchester and Middlesbrough. I hope more teams will start building clubs rather than just a team of players. It would help promote the sport and you could have 1 naHonal division which would raise the standard of the league. The top teams in each region don't get enough compeHHve games at the moment.

Do you believe the FA do enough to support futsal in England? I think the futsal department within The F.A. is doing a good job but as a whole The F.A. could support futsal more. However the clubs need to demonstrate that they are investable as at the moment I don't think they are. The clubs can't rely on The F.A. for everything. If they show they are working well I am sure The FA and other organisaHons will support them.

Can you see the naBonal team qualifying for a major tournament in the near future? In the near future it will be difficult to qualify but we should at least get through the preliminary stage. I think the most important thing is that there are strong naHonal compeHHons for both senior and youth levels. The progress of the England team has correlated with the formaHon and progress of the naHonal league. I don't think it is too difficult to reach the top 40 teams in the world in the next couple of years if we go about it the right way.

What personal aspiraBons do you have as a futsal player? Where do you see yourself in the near future? I have come a long way in the last few years as a player and I want this to conHnue. I hope I conHnue to represent my country and just keep enjoying playing.

Thanks to Doug Reed for taking the time to do this interview…

Reed at former club Manchester

Receiving the player of the tournament award at FA Futsal Cup



Back in December 2011 the Welsh FA announced the first ever FAW Futsal Squad ahead of a one‐day training camp. 15 players were selected from across Wales as the FAW looked to start their preparaBons ahead of the UEFA European Championship QualificaBon tournament in January 2013.

The announcement of the squad and their intenHons to take part in the European Championship qualifiers is great news for the development of futsal in Wales. The introducHon of a naHonal side should help increase the number of players taking part in the FAW Futsal Cup which the FAW launched last season.

“If you look at players like Xavi and Iniesta they are excellent at these skills and these can really be developed by playing futsal, which is great for our youngster’s

development” – Gary Speed

The compeHHon saw 28 teams taking part in various regional groups which made up the 8 finalist. TNS became the inaugural FAW Futsal Cup winners in 2011 when they defeated Gap Connah’s Quay in the final and booked their place in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Futsal Cup, the first Welsh side to compete in the compeHHon.

The FAW Futsal Cup was supported by former Wales manager, the late Gary Speed who aRended the launch of the compeHHon. “If you look at players like Xavi and Iniesta they are excellent at these skills and these can really be developed by playing Futsal, which is great for our youngster’s development,” said Speed.

FutsalWorld interviewee and current Cariff coach Periklies Antoniou has been asked to work with the naHonal side to help develop their skills and tacHcs. The young Welsh side narrowly missed out on a draw with the 2011 FA Futsal Cup winners Manchester in March, going down 3‐2 to an experienced Manchester ouuit.

The FAW have planned more training camps and an internaHonal match against England in the near future and alongside the second FAW Futsal Cup, the sport looks to have a bright future in Wales.

The Wales bench looks on during their game against Manchester



For more information on Futsal in Wales and the FAW Futsal cup, go to:

www.welshfootballtrust.org.uk www.faw.org.uk


Periklies Antoniou is a young futsal coach trying to make his way in the game. Despite his relaBvely young age, his experience of futsal at a naBonal and internaBonal level is hugely impressive and one that he is keen to build on. ADer ending Helvecia’s dominance of the FA Futsal Cup last season with Manchester, Peri moved on to Cardiff. We decided to ask Peri a few quesBons about his Bme in BriBsh futsal.

PERIKLIES ANTONIOU


One for the future… Interview by Niall McGlone

Peri celebrating winning the FA Futsal Cup with Manchester


How did you first get into futsal? Living in Cyprus, futsal is one of the top recreaHonal acHviHes, similar to the 'Powerleague' and 'Goals' in the UK, so my involvement in the sport was inevitable. Also, many fans follow the Cyprus NaHonal Futsal League where the likes of AC Omonia and A.G.B.U Ararat have had great success in the UEFA Futsal Cup. Although I never played at a high standard, I always enjoyed playing and watching futsal.

How did you first become involved with futsal a]er moving to England? In 2010, I was doing my 2nd year at Manchester Metropolitan University in Cheshire, and I knew that the University had no futsal team. I got in touch with the Football Club Chairman and we made an agreement and got it underway. Studying a coaching degree it was natural for me to want to expand my knowledge of the sport so I could improve as a coach, and help the University team put in decent performances in the BUC's compeHHons. From there, I looked at constantly learning more about the sport, and got in touch with Ararat in Cyprus that summer, who were preparing for the Preliminary Round of the UEFA Futsal Cup. I asked to watch some of their sessions, and that's where I met former Fulham player Ara Bedrossian who was Head Coach. I was invited down on a daily basis, and was eventually allowed to conduct sessions for the team. Ara then had to fly to the UK for a while during pre‐season, and decided to leave me in charge. This was an experience that I’d learnt a lot from, and that would aid me in my future coaching. At the age of 20, I was working with a team preparing for the UEFA Futsal Cup. Once I went back to England for my final year, I was put in touch with Manchester Futsal Club by Robert Ursell, who was playing for Ararat at the Hme, as he'd heard they were looking for a new coach.

You are one of the younger futsal coaches in the NaBonal Futsal leagues, do you think that has any effect, good or bad on your teams? When I was le` in charge of Ararat in Cyprus, a pro Futsal club, I was coaching professionals and internaHonals between 21 and 35. I was just 20 at the Hme and in all honesty it was a challenge I was relishing. However I have to give full credit to the players, and to Ara, who took me in and helped me throughout the process, all because of one thing. Everyone had a common goal, a common interest, and they knew that in order to reach that goal, they had to cooperate appropriately, not just with myself, but with each other. That’s where I learnt the importance of gekng players to understand that you are all in it for the same reason, to win, and to get the club higher than it has ever been. This is the sort of mentality I brought with me to both Manchester Futsal and Cardiff City Futsal, and that’s how I feel I gained respect from all players (from the most experienced to the least experienced). I also find it is key to learn from your players, especially the more experienced ones, and take advantage of knowledge that can help me improve as a coach, and the team to improve regarding performance. My age is definitely an issue, but what is more important, is the way I go about managing the situaHon, rather than seeing my age as an actual problem, but instead an advantage.

You won the FA Futsal Cup with Manchester last season, beaBng favourites Helvecia along the way, how does that rank among your achievements as a futsal coach? Like I’ve menHoned before, I have been involved with the likes of Ararat in the UEFA Futsal Cup, as well as AC Omonia in both the Preliminary Round and the Main Round where we traveled to Serbia and played against some of the best players in Europe. These are all great achievements for me, but achievements that I managed as a member of the backroom staff at these clubs. However to manage to win the FA Futsal Cup with a team of your own, with players you work with day in day out, and to beat the likes of Helvecia and FC BalHc along the way, for me is the absolute pinnacle so far, and I thank Manchester Futsal for giving me the opportunity to gain such a great experience. However I look forward to what we can achieve in the remainder of this season with Cardiff City Futsal, and have my sights set on the FAW Futsal Cup which, if we obtain, guarantees us entry into the Preliminary Round of the UEFA Futsal Cup. As you can imagine, this is a dream come true for futsal coaches around Europe.

The FA Futsal Cup was cancelled this season by the FA, what were your thoughts on that having won the cup the previous season?

I feel guRed that Manchester don’t have the opportunity to defend their silverware the immediate season a`er, and I also feel guRed that we at Cardiff City are stripped of the opportunity to improve on last year’s record in the Cup. However I am not aware of the logisHcs required to run the event, and knowing both Simon Walker and Simon Wright in the FA, I am sure they have done whatever they could to fight our side of the baRle to get the event under way. It’s out of our control, and we can only be paHent for next year and hope it goes ahead then.

Kissing the FA Cup


Do you feel the FA do enough to support futsal? I am fully aware that those employed by the FA to support futsal are doing their utmost to do so, but what I am worried about is those in the FA who maybe see futsal as a threat to the 11 a‐side game, or just something not worth invesHng in. However nature will take its course in England, just as it has in Spain, Italy, Portugal and even Cyprus, and I can guarantee you that parHcipaHon numbers will rise, and the investment will grow, as nothing can stop futsal from developing. It’s a fun sport to both play and watch, it is brilliant for football development, and as Hme goes by, more and more people will understand this.

You now coach Cardiff in the midlands league, how does the team and the league compare to your previous experience as manager? I have to say that the percepHon that people tend to have, that the Midlands league is the weakest league in England, is true. But this will change with Hme, as more focus will start to be given to the sport, and soon enough we will catch up both North and South. However I find that the biggest gap comes in the level of refereeing, where in the Midlands, some referees seem very inexperienced, and haven’t fully grasped the laws of the game quite yet!

In comparison to last year, I am working with a team who have an average age of 20, if that! It is tough as there is a lack of experience, but on the other end of the scale, it is great because you see the great development that these players go through, and wonder what they will be like in 3‐4 years Hme if they sHck together. The lads have already improved on last season’s league record, and look more moHvated than ever to get a result in the FAW Cup. They are loving playing futsal and learning lots, and this is what counts. Where do you think the future holds for futsal in England and Wales? Working with the Welsh NaHonal squad, I know first hand what is happening with regards to futsal development in Wales. There is a great plan to start a Welsh NaHonal League in the next few years, very similar to the one in England. Also the large interest given to the newly set up Welsh NaHonal squad shows that there is room for a lot to happen in Wales, but a lot of effort is required to catch‐up to the standards of the FA NaHonal Leagues.

Futsal in England has showed great strides of late, and this is reflected through the results of the NaHonal squad, and the drasHc improvements they’ve made the last couple of years. Also, the great representaHon that Helvecia has been making in Europe also imitates the progress made. I’m sure that soon enough, media interest will be greater, and with this will come investment, and hopefully the adaptaHon of the Leagues to just one NaHonal League, however I do not see this happening for another 4‐5 years Hme.

What improvements do you think can be made to futsal over here? Slowly, slowly the quality of futsal is improving in England. Things that could help speed the progress up are aspects such as futsal coach educator programs, beRer referees who are assessed more o`en, as well as a stricter criteria basis for a club to be a NaHonal League club, as these are all issues that are currently creaHng problems with regards to the quality of the NaHonal League especially in the Midlands. However I am sure that all these issues will be dealt with with Hme, and soon enough, we will have a very high level NaHonal Futsal League, that people will have a desire to watch and parHcipate in.

What are your personal goals as a futsal coach? I always like to leave my opHons open, and I’m willing to go anywhere to gain experience, whether it be back home in Cyprus, or at a club in England. However the greatest achievement would probably be to work with some of the biggest clubs in the world like FC Barcelona, El Pozo Murcia, Montesilvano, Benfica or SporHng. I know I am way off that yet, but with Hme and effort maybe the dream could come true!

Thanks to Periklies Antoniou for taking the time to do this interview and to Marc Taylor for the photos…

Working with the Welsh National team


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Futsal World Magazine // Issue One

FUTSAL WORLD GUEST COLUMN

An ar&cle on futsal specific fitness by Daniel Berdejo‐del‐Fresno, England Futsal

Na&onal Team and Manchester Futsal Club

S&C Coach

‘Sport science of football and futsal differs to a great extent’


Futsal is widely played across the world and, like every Spanish kid, I started to play futsal during the playHmes at school. This is the greatest difference between Spain and Great Britain – all the playgrounds in Spain have a basketball and a futsal pitch at least, therefore children can play these sports from an early age. Soon I realised that I was a beRer runner than a futsal player, so I le` futsal. Even though, as a Spaniard, you can never forget this sport and it was during the summer of 2010 that I had the opportunity to be involved in futsal again.

Since season 2010‐2011 I have worked as a Strength and CondiHoning Coach for Manchester Futsal Club. In addiHon to that, this season I have also been appointed as the Assistant Coach and the Goalkeepers Coach. In May 2011, I officially debuted as the Strength and CondiHoning Coach of the England Futsal Team with a victory over Montenegro, a day that I will never forget.

Thanks to these experiences I realised that in Great Britain futsal is not as popular as in Spain, and in general BriHsh futsal players come from football or they play both sports. However, it is important to note that the sport science of both sports differs to a great extent. Due to the characterisHcs of the futsal game (5 players), parHcipants can never stop or walk on the court, but they must be conHnuously moving.

In football, possessions are longer and aRacks have longer duraHons because of the length and the imperfecHons of the field (grass); however, in futsal aRackers are also defenders, that is, in two seconds a team can go from aRacking to conceding a goal, since the distance between both goals is only of 40 metres and the wooden floor allows the ball to move very fast. It is a much more tacHcal and physical sport than football and its intensity is very high. You can do as many subsHtuHons as you wish, so futsal players should be able to play at 100%. Several studies have found that futsal players have a mean value of 90% of maximum heart rate, which means that a professional futsal player cannot withstand the demands of the game more than 6‐8 minutes, this resulHng in a large number of subsHtuHons during a match.

Finally, as a contact team sport, a range of injuries can occur in futsal. Studies have shown that these injures tend to happen in the legs, specifically in the lower legs, ankles and groins. Ankle sprains are the injuries with the highest rate, and they are even most common in the dominant limb. This can be explained, since the dominant limb is the limb that is most accomplished at kicking, being used for that funcHon most of the Hme, while the non‐dominant limb consequently takes on a support funcHon. These acHons, repeated daily in training and in the games, create a paRern, so that the dominant limb ‘specialises’ in the kick and the non‐dominant limb in the support. This results in the dominant limb being less effecHve than the non‐dominant limb when support is required, which corresponds precisely to the mechanism of the vast majority of ankle sprains. This fact emphasises the importance of training both legs through propriocepHon exercises and tasks, as well as adequate warm‐ups, for the sake of both injury prevenHon and skills development.

By Daniel Berdejo‐del‐Fresno

England Futsal Na&onal Team and Manchester Futsal Club S&C Coach

FUTSAL WORLD GUEST COLUMN

Daniel with Manchester Futsal Club (Bottom row fourth from right)



Marc Birke= is one of the most experienced futsal referees in the country. He refereed his first internaBonal game back in 2007 and his impressive performances led to him being called up to officiate at the 2012 Futsal Euro in CroaBa. We talked to Marc about life a futsal referee and his Bme in CroaBa…

How did you first get into futsal? Have you ever played Futsal? I got into Futsal in 2004 when I became Football Development Officer at Sheffield FA. Developing the game was part of my work programme and from this we had a senior league running which I started refereeing on. In terms of playing the game I have played a handful of compeHHve games within recreaHonal leagues but never played at NaHonal League level. Although I referee the game each week I enjoy playing Futsal socially when I can.

Interview by Niall McGlone

When did you referee your first internaBonal match and how did that come about given the low profile futsal has in England? My first internaHonal game was Belgium vs Holland in 2007 played in Antwerp. 2007 was a very important year for me as a Futsal referee, it was the year I first took part as referee at the FA Futsal Cup, the previous year I had been Hmekeeper the whole compeHHon. The FA Futsal Cup was the premier and only naHonal Futsal event at that Hme and to officiate at the compeHHon was a great opportunity. I had a successful compeHHon eventually whistling the Final match, which at the Hme I did not realise it would secure me a place to travel with the England team to Belgium in a Four NaHons CompeHHon. England traveled with 2 referees as part of an agreement between the countries to share match officials. In front of a full house of 2,500, something I had never experienced before, Belgium lost 1‐0, a great experience and a level that I felt comfortable with considering the level of Futsal in the UK.

Marc Birkett (centre)


You were recently selected to referee at the 2012 Futsal Euros, how was that experience? To be selected to officiate at the Futsal Euros was a huge honor and a surprise. I had a very busy 2010 with appointments and was selected to aRend the pre compeHHon course so I knew I had an outside chance but being a Category 2 referee thought it was unlikely (in UEFA there are 3 category of match officials 1 being the highest). From the moment I arrived in CroaHa you had the feel of a large important event but with Futsal it’s a family and with so many familiar faces you always feel at home. I was very fortunate to be appointed to the official opening game CroaHa v Romania as 2nd referee. To step out into the arena in Split with 8,500 spectators, live on TV and your first game at the Championships was a very exciHng opportunity if not a liRle nervous. As the appointments worked on a rotaHon basis within a team of 4 referees I officiated another 3 games, one as 1st Referee Turkey v Russia, 3rd Referee for CroaHa v Czech Republic and Timekeeper on Spain v Romania, this offered me great exposure at that level and every match I had the opportunity to learn more about the game.

How does refereeing on the internaBonal stage compare to the naBonal leagues in England? There is a big step up from domesHc compeHHon in England to internaHonal compeHHon. You are moving up to a level where the teams in the main are more professional so their expectaHons are higher, the game is quicker, spectators and o`en on TV so naturally you need to raise your game. I feel that here in England we are fortunate that we have officiated at a good level for 11‐a‐side football so the demands of a more physical, compeHHve Futsal game means you are ready. For all the highlights of internaHonal games we sHll have to remember our domesHc compeHHon is our bread and buRer so sHll have to work hard and perform here as well.

Have you noBced an improvement in the standard of futsal in England during the Bme you have been involved? The standard of Futsal in England has improved over the years. Teams are gekng more knowledgeable and the players have come through more of a Futsal pathway, if you look at the

current England team most of their players have come through a playing programme within the universiHes then naHonal league then England, this is great credit to those promoHng the game.

Do you feel the FA do enough to educate and promote futsal to potenBal players in England? I think the FA work hard on promoHng the game but you have to consider what a mammoth task it is considering how large our football is over here. The main issue is that 11‐a‐side football will always be the priority but the FA have done lots of work with County FA’s and Football Clubs who now seem to be a liRle more switched on to the opportuniHes our game can offer its bigger brother.

As someone who as seen games across the country, what improvements do you think can be made to the game in England as a whole? I think we need to educate our coaches more so the creaHon of good solid coaching educaHon programmes are essenHal for the growth of the game. We have been slow to react when you look around other countries who have managed to make massive progress in short periods of Hme i.e. France & Turkey. We also brand Futsal within the whole FA small side football programme which does not give the game its separate idenHty which I feel is vital for its development.

Where do you see English futsal in 5 years Bme? I feel very posiHve about the future of the game within the FA. Each year more teams are joining leagues and we are recruiHng more referees, coaches and volunteers which in itself is posiHve, we now need to take the elite level of the game to a new level. I think in 5 years we will have a full NaHonal league with 8‐12 teams taking part. which will help raise the compeHHon level. Underneath this we will have a solid pyramid system which will allow clubs to move through the system which is very similar to football. This type of domesHc compeHHon will be good for everyone, which will see us compete more on the internaHonal stage.

Thanks to Marc birkett for taking the time to do this interview…

UEFA official ahead of the 2012 Futsal Euros


Sixteen new teams from four different confederaHons entered the qualifying stages for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand this year. Claims that futsal is the fastest growing sport in the world are hard to argue with number of naHons looking to qualify for the World Cup increasing each year.

A number of teams from the Asian confederaHon have already seen their aRempts to qualify fail with Mongolia, Myanmar, Bahrain, PalesHne, Syria and Saudi Arabia all failing to make to the AFC Futsal Championship. The United Arab Emirates sHll have a chance to make it to Thailand when they compete at the AFC Futsal Championship from 25 May unHl 1 June.

‘115 of FIFA’s 208 member associations have attempted to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012’

In the CONCACAF compeHHon, newcomers St KiRs and Nevis benefited from the withdrawal of a clutch of naHons and retain every chance of claiming a berth at the world finals. Eight teams from the ConfederaHon now meet in Guatemala from 2‐8 July, where

Four places in Thailand are up for grabs in the CONCACAF compeHHon where eight teams will face each other in Guatemala from 2‐8 July. Newcomers St KiRs and Nevis’ chances of qualifying were boosted when a number of naHons withdrew from the compeHHon, opening the door the naHon make history by qualifying for Thailand.


Officials at the launch of the FIFA Futsal World Cup

by Niall McGlone


The African qualifying compeHHon could also see debutants qualify for Thailand. Guinea, Gabon, Guinea‐Bissau and Sudan are among the compeHng naHons looking to make it through the CAF qualifying rounds.

Yarza, Senior Manager of Futsal and Beach Soccer CompeHHons at FIFA believes there are clear reasons for the worldwide boom in futsal; “some 57 percent of member associaHons stage regular futsal tournaments for men," said Yarza.

"Half of all member associaHons now possess a futsal secHon or a futsal commiRee. On top of that, FIFA staged 35 coaching and refereeing courses around the world last year to promote and develop futsal."

“The fact that 115 of FIFA’s 208 member associaHons have aRempted to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 goes to show how popular the indoor format has become all over the world," added Yarza.

The number of teams aRempHng to qualify for Futsal World Cup has grown rapidly since the early nineHes. Back in 1992, just 23 naHons entered the qualifying compeHHon, while 49 naHons entered in 1996, and 64 in the year 2000. Four years later, 86 FIFA member associaHons entered qualifying in 2044, with the figure rising to 98 when the finals were staged in Brazil four years ago.

The naHons that qualify for the event know that they will already join four‐Hme winners and current World Cup holders Brazil a`er they became the first team to make it to Thailand. ArgenHna have also qualified alongside their South American counterparts despite losing to Brazil in during the qualifying tournament.


Current champions Brazil have already qualified


FUTSAL WORLD THANKS

THANKS TO… BEN MORTLOCK , AGON REXHA , ROB URSELL, DOUG REED, PERIKLIES ANTONIOU , MARC BIRKETT, DAMON SHAW for taking the Hme to do the interviews.

Thanks to DANIEL BERDEJO‐DEL‐FRENSO for his arHcle on futsal fitness and MARC TAYLOR (www.marctaylor.eu) for his photo.

Also thank to anyone who has liked our Facebook page or followed us on TwiRer, we appreciate it.

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Spain’s Aicardo in action in the 2012 UEFA Futsal Euro final


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