PANAJI
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is pleased with the facilities for hosting international futsal competitions in Goa. The AFC representatives are on a visit to India to help All India Football Federation (AIFF) chart out the roadmap to develop futsal in the country. The AFC delegation leader feels India can emerge to be a powerhouse of futsal in Asia, if the AIFF can implement the initiative.
AFC Director of Futsal and Beach Soccer, Ali Targholizadeh visited Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa University campus, and Peddem Sports Complex in Mapusa on Thursday. He was happy with the facilities.
"I find the venue is very good for Indian futsal in future," he told the reporters. "Futsal now is producing skilful football players in the world. Futsal can be used to develop football in the country. Many countries play futsal, which is very popular in Brazil. Spain (also) have high-level technical players. We hope India for us in Asia, having a population of two-thirds of the world, play an important role for being a big nation. (There is) opportunity in future to have a strong powerhouse of futsal in Asia, and even the world level, because of the potential and facilities (in India)," reasoned out the Iranian administrator.
"On this visit, we find out good facilities. This also, is a chance for having a strong country in future for hosting the big tournaments. Many countries from Europe want to come to Asia and contribute to futsal development. I hope these facilities (in Goa) could host futsal event of Asian indoor games or Asian championships in future.
"I believe the facilities that I have visited, will accelerate the process of development of futsal in India. I thank AIFF for opening the new chapter of developing futsal," said Ali, who had visited an indoor complex in Andheri-Mumbai before coming to Goa.
Ali also added that coach and referee education will be the preliminary step towards laying a strong foundation for futsal in the country. The former Iran international footballer is hopeful that India can put together its domestic futsal league first before getting to host Asian-level events.
AIFF Technical Director, Savio Medeira, GFA President Elvis Gomes were also part of the inspection team. While no futsal competition has been envisioned so far, Medeira stressed that his focus initially, will be on developing specialist futsal coaches. "The first step is to mould coaches for futsal. To start a competition when you do not have coaches in futsal is not right. When we look at the licensing criteria, we tell the clubs that there needs to be a certain qualification for clubs to have coach. There was only one course held in 2011. After that nothing was there in futsal," Medeira said.
"We cannot start in a wrong way. I have requested AFC and Ali to help to start with courses for coaches. There are three levels of coaching in futsal. First we need to produce coaches. Then we can get in the States to help us. AIFF without states is nothing. We have to take the help of States. This exercise of inspection of venues is to show (AFC) that we are starting (futsal). It was not like futsal was not being played (in India). But now AIFF is taking over the sport, and we will try to get everybody on board," explained Medeira.
Although futsal is being played in Goa, the events have never been recognised by the Goa Football Association. But now, things are about to change. GFA President Elvis Gomes stressed that the association will launch its long-anticipated futsal league in the near future.
