Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
The Premier Futsal League, a first of its kind in the world commenced at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai on Friday.
Among the shortlisted Indian players getting an opportunity to play with and against marquee players and well-known futsallers, are three Goans -- Michael Silva, Fredsan Marshall and Caitano Fernandes -- who are turning out for their home franchise, Goa 5s.
The Goan Everyday brings you a three-part series profiling each of these futsal upstarts from the State and their thoughts on playing the first season of Premier Futsal.
Twenty-three-year-old Michael from Ambelim is a defender who played for Santa Cruz of Cavelossim in the Goa Pro League last season. He has represented Goa U-14 in Sri Lanka and Portugal and has played against clubs like Benfica and Sporting Clube de Goa with the side. He also played for Salgaocar FC at various age group levels “ U-14, U-16 and U-18.
Thereon, he moved to Dempo SC, where he played for a year at the U-20 level, and Wilred Leisure Sports club, Curtorim, playing for the club at the Goa Pro League for a season (2012-13). Moving for a year to play at the Super League in Pune, he turned out for the Aiyfa Skyhawks.
A professional footballer the last three years, earlier this year he got an opportunity at Chowgule Sports Centre, Margao to play a league-based futsal tourney. His team, Lazy Boys came a respectable third. In fact, earlier in Pune, with the same team, they used to have competitive futsal tourneys every Sunday, he had to add.
On an opportunity on playing alongside the legendary Brazilian Ronaldinho, Michael says it is like a dream come true for him. “With his presence, it will bring flair to the Goa 5s with the domestic talents who will try and play according to him,” he said. “We had a good boot camp and have learnt a lot of things that will help us in our game,” he added.
