For those not familiar, futsal is an indoor, fast-paced, 5-a-side version of football. Originating in South America, the sport has recently started to grow in the UK, with several regional leagues, a National League (THE FA National Super League) and a National Team aiming to compete against the world’s best.
Because of its growth in popularity, a BUCS Futsal league was created so that Universities and Colleges could compete in the sport. The University of East London’s futsal team was established in 2008 and has mirrored the sport’s national growth.
UEL Futsal Life
Trials are held at the start of the year, where those who signed up at the Fresher’s Fair are given a chance to showcase their talents as well as learn about the game. Those who are lucky enough to make one of the futsal squads are added to the WhatsApp group. I impressed during the trials in my first year to secure my place at the club as a goalkeeper.
The squads are managed by Trevor Tamatave, founder of Genesis Futsal Club, one of the biggest futsal teams in the country. Trevor’s expertise means that even newcomers to the sport at UEL are soon able to develop a fine understanding of the game, helping the team to settle quickly.
Training sessions are held in the SportsDock, every Thursday between 5-8 pm. Training is a mixed session with the ladies team having a run out as well.
The sessions consist of fitness-work, a variety of futsal drills and matches at the end of the session. Sessions are usually concluded with a talk about tactics to prepare the team for the match day which falls on Sundays for the men and Saturdays for the ladies. I always make sure I’ve got all my university work done so I can enjoy my weekend playing futsal.
Match Day
Both the First and Second squads are usually given over the WhatsApp group on Saturday By Trevor and our captain Robert Wheeler. Teams will meet at the SportsDock, around an hour before the game (or earlier if it’s an away game, in order to get the coach to the match on time). The players will get changed into their blue strip before taking to the court to warm up.
After a sufficient warm up, the starting five is selected by the manager or captain. The players try their absolute best to get the result. At the end of the game, the match is briefly discussed where Tamatave or Wheeler give us their feedback on what went well and what needs to be worked on during training on Thursday. If there is a reason to celebrate, the team will meet up for a drink after the game, which is perfect for improving the chemistry of the squad!
At the start of the following training session, Sunday’s match will be discussed in more depth, for the squad to work on their strengths and weaknesses and prepare for the following fixture!
