Futsal, fast paced indoor 5-a-side football, with its emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique, is hugely popular in Europe with current Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon having won the UEFA Futsal Championship when they beat Kairat (Kazakhstan) in April. Last week Portimonense became the first team from the Algarve to reach the National Futsal 1st Division when they beat Estoril 8-5 away.
The Portimonense goals came via a Fassy hat-trick, Filipe Soares, Fábio Semedo and Pedro Senra. They will now play the other promoted team Candosa (Guimarães district), from the Northern Division, to decide the National 2nd Division champions.
A party in Paços do Concelho, Portimão, honoured the team’s unique success and mayoress Isilda Gomes praised the players who next season will be competing against UEFA Champions Sporting as well as Benfica and Porto futsal teams in the top flight.
C.W.
