Futsal Courts: The Biggest Challenge of Hong Kong Futsal Development

Reported by Hong-shun Wong

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“Winner stays.” A teenager said.

 

It is another ordinary night. There are only five players in each team. They are playing on a small pitch. They are playing in fast pace. They are panting for breath. They are not playing basketball. They are playing FUTSAL.

 

Futsal, or footsal, is a variant of the modern one with eleven players in each side. It was originated in Uruguay in the 1930s. There are only five players in each team. After years of development, it is promoted all over the world. There is even a World Cup for it.

 

However, the development of futsal is still in its early stage in Hong Kong due to the lack of both quality and quantity in qualified local futsal pitches.

 

“The poor quality of the pitches really scares away beginners from joining futsal,” said Wong Yiu-fu, the experienced Hong Kong futsal representative.

 

The term “futsal” comes from Spanish fútbol sala, which means “indoor football”.

Ridiculously, it should be called “outdoor football” in Hong Kong. According to the number released by the Home Affairs Department (HAD) last year, only four out of the seventy-two pitches, which are administrated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), are indoor.

 

Moreover, suggested by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), futsal should be played on “flat, smooth and non-abrasive surfaces”, such as wood or artificial materials. Playing on rough hard surfaces, for example concrete and tarmac, should be avoided. However, the majority of local futsal pitches are constructed with concrete, except the four indoor ones.

 

“This makes players get hurt easily when they fall onto the ground. Those pitches with rough surfaces cannot provide the same level of protection as the one with wood or artificial surface does. They cannot help with shock absorption,” said the thirty-seven years old veteran. “As a result, parents will not let their children play futsal, in order to protect them from injuries.” 

 

Moreover, according to the number released by the HAD last year, there are only twenty-five pitches comply with the FIFA standard for international matches.

 

“Even the pitch used in such a big and professional event is not meeting the standards, isn’t it ridiculous, huh?” Wong questioned. He pointed out that the pitch used in the final of the Hong Kong Games was not meeting the recommended size.

 

As futsal is a sport that requires players to observe and utilize free spaces on the pitch wisely through fast decision making in passing and dribbling, Wong believes that players’ performances will be negatively affected if they are trained in those non-qualified pitches.

 

“Imagine you are now playing in an international tournament like World Cup. When you step onto the pitch, you suddenly realize that the size of the pitch is hugely different from your training ground. Would your performance be affected? It is obvious.” Wong said.

 

Currently, FIFA only administrates association football (11-a-side football), futsal and beach football. However, you can always easily spot football pitches that are built for seven-a-sided or nine-a-sided games in Hong Kong. But for the FIFA recognized futsal --- you cannot find any pitch which can fully fulfill FIFA standard on street actually. There are merely three indoor pitches that conform to the standards, and they are only for holding activities organized by the LCSD and “relevant National Sports Association”, which means the Hong Kong Football Association. Bookings from the public are not welcomed.

 

“The government should provide more qualified futsal pitches that can be available to the public.” Wong said. He pointed out that beginners are more likely to join futsal, if they can be protected by the pitch. He also suggested the government to rebuild some of those seven-a-sided pitches to futsal pitches which meet FIFA standard, so as to solve the problem.

 

In fact, futsal is crucial for the development of the 11-a-side football also. Many footballers that are famous for their skills, such as Ronaldinho Gaucho and Neymar, trained futsal when they were young. Can Hong Kong train our Neymar?  It depends on when and how would the government improve local futsal grounds. Hopefully one day, futsal can finally blossom in Hong Kong.