Futsal championship to begin next year
This will be the first ever national futsal tournament
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will hold the country’s first national Futsal Championship in the first quarter of 2015.
According to PFF secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, the championship will take place in either January or February depending on the availability of the teams.
He said that this will be the first step towards introducing the shorter version of the sport in the national circuit. “It’s the beginning really,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “This is the first time that we are holding a national futsal championship; we have invited provincial teams, departments and clubs to participate in it. So far we don’t have a date because we are waiting for the teams to confirm, but this is a major event.”
Lodhi added that the shorter version of the game is faster and will therefore test the players. “It’s faster, and it needs quicker players,” said Lodhi. “Even the pitch for this game is smaller and the players are required to have better skills. Futsal will improve the technique and the skills of the players, and will help them work on their pace.”
Lodhi said that different clubs and departments will be encouraged to have separate teams for futsal. “Iran is the world futsal champion and FIFA has a separate event for it, so we’ll be trying to bring the same culture in Pakistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PFF secretary also added that a beach football tournament will also take place next year.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will hold the country’s first national Futsal Championship in the first quarter of 2015.
According to PFF secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, the championship will take place in either January or February depending on the availability of the teams.
He said that this will be the first step towards introducing the shorter version of the sport in the national circuit. “It’s the beginning really,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “This is the first time that we are holding a national futsal championship; we have invited provincial teams, departments and clubs to participate in it. So far we don’t have a date because we are waiting for the teams to confirm, but this is a major event.”
Lodhi added that the shorter version of the game is faster and will therefore test the players. “It’s faster, and it needs quicker players,” said Lodhi. “Even the pitch for this game is smaller and the players are required to have better skills. Futsal will improve the technique and the skills of the players, and will help them work on their pace.”
Lodhi said that different clubs and departments will be encouraged to have separate teams for futsal. “Iran is the world futsal champion and FIFA has a separate event for it, so we’ll be trying to bring the same culture in Pakistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PFF secretary also added that a beach football tournament will also take place next year.