24 teams clash in Futsal tourney

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 24 teams from various colleges and clubs will vie for this year’s 2010 Futsal Championships starting this weekend at Club 650 in Eastwood, Pasig.

According to Farita Villanueva of Creative Lab Inc., the tournament organizer, the sport of futsal is slowly gaining popularity in the country, drawing a boost with the recently concluded FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.

Futsal is a variant of football that is played on a smaller playing surface. This indoor game is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regular football. The rules make room for improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

The two-day competition will involve 12 teams each in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The tournament is sponsored by Club 650, Nivea, Molten, Garage Magazine, Rider, Beach Hut, Ideal Vision, Friendster, Enervon HP, Apricot Diner, Flexiserve Media, One Sport sports and fitness event guide, Scorecard Infinite Lifestyle Card and Immuvit. It is organized by Creative Lab, Inc. – events and design agency.