This is an age where anything compelling enough and ends quickly holds instant sway; people “tweet” their opinions and insights, and prefer reading news “Inshorts”. Even staid old cricket has warmed up to its short variant, the Twenty20, via varied commercial models.
It is a bit of a surprise, hence, that the country’s football fan base is not half as taken with futsal. Perhaps people are less aware of football’s compressed form, and there isn’t yet a staple flashy event in place.
Premier Futsal that premieres here on Friday may well herald an upswing.
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With the five football legends being the focal point of the event’s hype and promotion, and all of them sounding unanimously “excited” about the event, the public is buying into the buzz. The organisers let fans descend on the Taj Connemara on Thursday, and arranged for them to have a few words with the players at the captains’ meet.
Former Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho said he “grew up playing futsal initially”, lending instant credibility to the form by word of mouth, and by implication that some of his famous skills could have been an import from his futsal days.
Argentine icon Hernan Crespo seemed pleasantly amused at the reception and said he was appreciative of his “chance to promote futsal”.
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Former Manchester United stalwarts and futsal first-timers, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, said they were happy to be a part of the beginning of something big for the fast-growing sport of futsal in India.
Former Real Madrid star Michel Salgado, also a new-comer, conceded that the concept was “a bit complicated” for him, and expressed hope that he’d “get used to it”.
Two-time World Futsal Player of the Year, Falcao of Brazil, was overwhelmed that he gets to promote “the sport of his life”, and doing it “with the legends” on board.
From getting the likes of A.R. Rahman and Virat Kohli involved to adding global appeal with an array of football stars, Premier Futsal seems well in sync with its objective of wide-spread reach. It could do with some better organisation, though, especially as the inaugural edition is a pointer for the future.
Friday’s matches: Group-A: Chennai vs. Mumbai; Group-B: Goa vs. Kolkata, Nehru Indoor Stadium, 7 p.m. onwards.
Premier Futsal: the basics |
A match will be played in four quarters of 10 minutes each with a two-minute break between every quarter. |
A side can field five players from a squad of 13 — six Indian players, one legend, one freestyler and five international players. |
The basic formation for a team comprises a goalkeeper, a sweeper, two wingers, and a pivot (striker). |
Orange is the equivalent of a yellow card in football, and blue is the red-card equivalent; two orange cards will result in a blue. If a player receives a blue, he will be expelled and replaced by another player from the squad. |
Once a team commits five fouls, each foul thereafter will result in a penalty (to be taken nine metres from the goalline) for the opponent. |
A team should have at least one Indian player on the field at all times. |
Throw-in, penalty, and a goalkeeper’s release will have to be completed within five seconds. |
If the semifinals and final end in a tie, there will be no extra-time. A best-of-three penalty shootout will decide the winner. |
There will be three points for a win, and one for a draw. |