The Premier Futsal League is set to begin soon and what makes it special is that it serves as a platform for talented youngsters in the country to continue pursuing their dream of pursuing football professionally.
Futsal is a game that is played with the intention to have fun, with players demonstrating their skills and looking to play attacking football at every possible opportunity. The game requires great concentration, good ability on the ball, versatility and the ability to play as a team, all of which will be tested in the Premier Futsal League.
Players who excel at futsal are normally the ones who are able to perform multiple roles, have a wide array of skills and are not afraid to experiment under pressure, something that will come to the fore in the Premier Futsal League.
With the league starting in India in July, we take a look at 5 reasons why it can help in the growth of Indian football, pushing it forward:
Chance to play with experienced foreign legends
The Premier Futsal League has already roped in the likes of former Portugal star, Deco, who starred in club football for Porto, Barcelona and Chelsea and Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, to be part of the franchises.
The presence of such reputed, skillful footballers, along with probably the best futsal player of all-time, Alessandro Rosa Vieira, better known as Falcao, is a great incentive for young Indian talent to observe and learn from.
What better chance to learn and hone their skills than in the presence of stalwarts of the game, who were known to be some of the most skillful and composed on the ball during their time.
Proper coverage and increased popularity
Futsal has gained a lot of popularity in India over the course of the last few years, and there is a lot of demand for the sport. With a lot of youngsters now playing the sport during their spare time frequently, the time is ripe for the sport to grow in India.
The league will be telecast live on Sony Six, Sony ESPN and Sony AATH and that will be a great advantage for the spectators, who will derive tremendous entertainment from watching matches live in India.
The timing also helps, as it will be held just after the Euros and Copa America conclude, keeping the fever for the beautiful game going.
Exposure to a professional set-up
Futsal has gained a lot of popularity in India over the course of the last few years, and there is a lot of demand for the sport. With a lot of youngsters now playing the sport during their spare time frequently, the time is ripe for the sport to grow in India.
The exposure the players get while playing a sport that is a source of a lot of fun and produces scintillating attacking brand of futsal will be great, and a professional set-up for all the eight franchises will help increase the reach of the sport in the country.
With the teams playing for the chance to be India’s best, it offers a great competitive edge to the players who are able to step up and deliver for their teams, thus increasing their chances of taking up the sport professionally going forward.
Heightened skill development
The game of futsal involves a lot of close control, great skill and teamplay, and an ability to execute perfectly under pressure. Players touch the ball much more in a futsal game compared to football, and will need to take important decisions from time-to-time, to enable their teams play better.
The Premier Futsal League will provide many talented Indian youngsters a grand platform to showcase their skills and it is this stage that can help mould the inherent potential that many youngsters carry into actual on-field results.
With Indian football going through a period of flux currently, futsal could help accelerate the influx of talented individuals into the sport.
Added incentive for growth of youngsters
With young kids in the country taking to football more and more, the presence of futsal as an actual league can potentially help keep a lot of young, talented footballers in the game, as it provides a great platform where they can display their skills.
The Premier Futsal League allows players between the ages of 18-24 to be part of its inaugural season, and that is an age where individuals have to decide whether they intend to pursue football professionally or if they intend to play just for recreation.
Futsal can help encourage more people to take up the sport, and with proper growth and planning, the sport can grow tremendously in a country such as India, where the population of youngsters is pretty high.
As the interest in football as a whole continues to increase, the presence of the Premier Futsal League is an added incentive for budding footballers and is another potential avenue for them to continue their development and do what they like to do the most, play the beautiful game.
