Falcao-‘The Pele of futsal’ throws his weight behind India’s Premier futsal league
ADMIST ALL THE controversies hovering around the introduction of the Premier Futsal League, the ‘Pele of futsal’, Falcao has shown his support in favour of the new league.
The world renowned futsal star reckoned that it was time for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to give recognition to its first-ever multi-national futsal league, which is set to be held in India from July 15 to July 24, with each game split into two halves of 20 minutes each.
In an interaction with TOI, the renowned futsal star said,
"There are several private Futsal leagues that also happen world over and I have played in Dubai, Kuwait, USA etc. and they have never had any interference from AMF or FIFA. As a player, I feel this is a great opportunity to popularise the sport in India by bringing the best futsal players in the world. Premier Futsal and other Futsal tournaments will enhance the sporting ecosystem here and give people another sport to choose as a viewer, audience or a player."
After the launch of the new league, AIFF President Praful Patel and Secretary Kushal Das have expressed their disagreement and declared that the body is mulling over taking legal action.
When asked what made the Brazilian think futsal would click in India, he said that the concept would do well with the fast developing Indian economy.
"India is the fastest growing country and Futsal is the fastest growing indoor sport of the world - it would be a great platform to showcase what Futsal is all about to the Indian youth. Futsal is a young sport which oozes of tricks, flair and flamboyance. For the second largest population of the world which has opened itself up to so many different sports, futsal will definitely attract a lot of young talent."
The 39-year-old concluded that the indoor version of football is the way forward.
"Futsal is the fastest growing indoor sports in the world. Many countries have mandated their football federations to take up futsal in a much larger way. It comes down to a simple question - who doesn't love a sachet!? Having established itself as a unique sport with a different talent pool as compared to football, futsal is becoming hugely popular in the core markets of the US and UK."
