Agencies
Chennai
On the eve of its debut season, Premier Futsal, world’s first multi-national league, put on show their most prized possessions. The list of marquee players featured former World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho, Manchester United stalwarts - Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Ex-Chelsea & Inter-Milan forward Hernan Crespo, former Galactico Michel Salgado, and ‘Pele of Futsal’, Alessandro Rosa Viera, Falcao in Chennai.
Chennai, already abuzz with arrival of the superstar marquee players and the International Futsallers, is set to be taken over by a never-seen-before Futsal carnival which kicks-off at Jawarhalal Nehru Indoor Stadium on today. The opening ceremony will see a Live performance from Musical Maestro AR Rahman, who will sing the official anthem of league. International Futsal Freestyler’s led by Sean Garnier will also showcase their skills and give the audience a glimpse of what to expect from the first edition of Premier Futsal.
Ronaldinho Gaucho (Goa)
It feels wonderful to be back in India amongst such a passionate and kind audience. It feels even better when you are back to playing the game that you started off playing with “ Futsal. After all these years, it will be unique experience to be playing against the best futsallers and my friends who I have played against in the past. I am delighted to be back in a playing capacity this time and I would like to thank Premier Futsal for bringing back my memories from childhood of playing Futsal back home.
Ryan Giggs (Mumbai)
Premier Futsal will surely be a different experience for me. With so much been spoken about the importance of Futsal and how it helps football players become better “ I would love to see how I fare amongst the best in the business of Futsal. Several countries across the world are now embracing Futsal at the academy level to improve the game of kids at a very young age. I am delighted that entrepreneurs in India could think of this concept of Premier Futsal and manage to put together all these Futsal players and of course, all these legends who I have grow up playing with.
Paul Scholes (Bengaluru)
I was totally surprised at the number of people who turned up at the airport to welcome us. I was told there are a lot of Manchester United fans here, but I was pleasantly surprised to know that it was beyond my expectations. Through Premier Futsal, I hope we can showcase the importance of Futsal as a sport to the Indian fans. The thought of having the Indian players as a part of the playing team showcases the intent of the promoters to encourage the youth to take up Futsal. All of us here sincerely hope we can give put together a season which will encourage more youngsters to come forth and pick up the sport as a profession.
Hernan Crespo (Kolkata)
When Premier Futsal reached out to me to sign for the league, I had thought of a bunch of businessmen suited-booted to walk up to me and explain the details of the league to me. It was a very refreshing change to see this bunch of young, yet enterprising youngsters show up and talk about the sport with so much fervour. I was delighted to see the preparedness with which they went about planning Premier Futsal and as a businessman myself, their conviction led me to believe this could be a start of something really special in India.
Michel Salgado (Kochi)
Futsal as a sport is extremely popular in a lot of countries and I have played in several Futsal tournaments, I am delighted to be in India and I am looking forward to Premier Futsal. This is a great way to introduce a sport which is new and not so popular in your country. All of us hope we can give back an experience that the Indian audiences will love. I am really looking forward to meet up with the Indian boys in the team and will ensure they take back a wealth of experience from Premier Futsal.
Falcao (Chennai)
I have been in Chennai only for a few hours now and this place already feels like home. I am honoured to sitting alongside this elite bunch of players and be playing against them in this debut season of Premier Futsal. This is a great concept that Abhinandan and team have in mind to have legends from football, my colleagues from the Futsal world and these young Indian kids as a part of the team. Especially for the 5 kids who are a part of each team “ this could be a phenomenal learning experience.
