Photo Credits: Futsal profile 2
Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
Futsal, an indoor five-a-side version of football played on a much smaller playing surface and in a shorter duration, is a nascent sport in the country. The novel Premier Futsal began on Friday in Chennai amidst much excitement and fanfare.
For the second match on the opening day, Goa's Fredsan Marshall had the distinction of being the first Indian futsaller to start for his franchise Goa 5s in their match against Kolkata 5s. The Neura-based 21-year is the youngest among three Goans in Goa 5s squad.
The commerce graduate started playing competitively at Fr Agnel High School, Pilar. He turned out for his school representing the junior and senior teams and also represented the State side at the U-12, U-13 and U-14 levels. He has won a silver medal in ‘Ball Juggling’ while representing the State at the U-13 level.
Fredsan signed a five-year contract with the Brazil Football Academy (BFA) based in Goa at Agacaim which he was associated with until 18. After his stint at BFA, He signed up with Dempo SC as a striker at the U-20 level for whom he played for two years. In his second year, Michael Silva (another Goan with Goa 5s) joined him.
Last season, he played for Vasco Sports Club as a striker who could switch as a left winger as well. With his stock rising, the opportunity to play in Premier Futsal came knocking. But futsal was not new to him. He had previously played the fast-paced, shortened version of football when he was with BFA. He also represented his college in the 5-a-side game.
On the opportunity of playing in the same side as Ronaldinho, he said: “He has been my childhood hero and I have been watching all his matches. When I was with BFA, we were told we would go one day to Brazil and get a chance to play with Ronaldinho. But it never happened.”
But with his selection at Premier Futsal and in the same side as Ronaldinho, his dream was fulfilled. “They are great players, well-known all over the world. I will try my best to match up against them,” Fredsan said.
Fredsan, during the off-season, does a lot of cycling to keep his fitness up. In fact, at 18, he won the third place at an all-India cycling race covering a distance of 25 kms. While in college, he was the individual cycling champion in most of the races he competed in.
The speed, stamina and endurance apart from skill and finesse was very much evident that sustained him on the playing field for the larger part of the 40-minute game on Friday against Kolkata 5s.
