Pakistan must develop indoor facilities for futsal: Enzo

KARACHI: Former Australian futsal player Enzo Oagostiuo on Monday said if Pakistan wanted to progress in the game it would have to establish indoor infrastructure for the game throughout the country.

“What we see here is football. It’s not futsal as for that you need indoor facilities,” Enzo told ‘The News’ here after the end of a friendly futsal outing between Brazil and Pakistan here at the Benazir Sports Complex.

Brazil won the game 6-4 against the hosts, who had four players from Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and a few from Karachi and Hyderabad.Enzo, who is also an International Soccer Futsal Federation’s instructor, acknowledged that Pakistan was brimming with talent but said it would have to go a long way to establish its position in the world.

He said that Brazil is one of the mighty sides of the world. Its players start with futsal before switching over to football, he said.Enzo coached Pakistan team in the recently held four-nation international futsal event in Islamabad which Brazil won by thrashing Pakistan 12-1 at the Jinnah Stadium Islamabad on Sunday.

The short-stature Enzo said he had come to Pakistan for three weeks during which he would also hold some conferences for the coaches.“I am also holding conferences for coaches and I hope it will help Pakistan in futsal,” said Enzo, who coached Brazil in their friendly against Pakistan here on Monday.

Enzo also played for a few minutes in the game.During his stay at Karachi Enzo will hold a two-day coaching course which will start here on Tuesday (today). He has done a similar course in Islamabad and will do a course in Gilgit-Baltistan in the next few days.

Founded in 2014, Pakistan Soccer Futsal Association is about to get affiliation with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).The secretary of the federation Adnan Malik, who is also a former player of Punjab, told ‘The News’ that they had associations in all provinces and regions of the country.

It was a thrilling game between Brazil and Pakistan. Brazil had the services of former Brazilian defender Cafu’s son Wellington De Morais who showed fine skills on the field.Skipper Duran emerged as the hero for Brazil who hit a treble. He was joined on the score-sheet by Augusto de Silva, Jefferson and Wellington.

Habib hit two goals for Pakistan, while Faisal and Sarim Baloch landed one each.

At half time the score was 2-2. At one stage in the second half it was 4-4 before Brazil played aggressively to take it to 6-4 in their favour. Pakistan’s gloveman Sanaullah made a few good saves. KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Jameel Akhtar distributed prizes among the players.

Former Pakistan captain Col (retd) Changezi, former Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi, assistant coach Nasir Ismail and Pakistan Volleyball Federation’s (PVF) secretary Shah Naeem Zafar were also present on the occasion.Brazil will leave on Tuesday (today).