Can you tell us a little bit about your sport?
Futsal is an indoor variation of football that is heavily played in South America. Both teams consist of 5 players and games are 20 minutes stop clock, per half.
Why is Futsal the sport for you, and how did you get into it?
I originally started playing futsal back at home as a few of my older cousins were playing it and I wanted to get involved as well. Futsal is an amazing sport because it is fast-paced, full of intensity and there are always plenty of goals. Games can change in the space of just one or two minutes and so you are never fully out of it until the final whistle.
It truly is a real spectator sport, with drama and excitement guaranteed. We hope that people will come watch to create an amazing atmosphere and cheer the team on.
What does Varsity mean to you?
Varsity is incredibly important both to myself and the rest of the of the team. It is something that every University student should try to be a part of, and I feel immensely proud to be representing University of Leeds against our local rivals. Having won our Varsity match in 2019, I hope to continue that winning streak this year.
How are you and the team feeling about the game?
Both the 1st and 2nd teams are incredibly excited ahead of their respective matches. Both have come off the back of fantastic BUCS seasons, with many players new to the sport. The 1st team face a difficult challenge against a Beckett team that finished 4th in the top division this year, but we are relishing the prospect of causing a major upset.
Meanwhile the 2nd team have already played Beckett 2nd team twice this year in the BUCS league. Whilst they lost both matches, they were extremely close encounters, and they will be hoping to enact revenge in the biggest game of them all.
Who’s the one to watch on your team?
One to watch for the 1st team is Chihiro Esaki. An international student for this year, he amazed the committee at his initial trial and has been a revelation for the side this year. His mixture of fast feet, silky skills, and sharp shooting will prove a lethal weapon for Varsity.
Meanwhile, for the 2nd team, the player to watch is Luke Dunkley. New to futsal this year, he has come on leaps and bounds, taking a real leadership role for the side, and proving a good fit for the 1st team when called upon.
And how will you be preparing for the game?
With limited time between the return from the Easter break and the match itself, we will be using training sessions to develop a strong game plan that we hope will be able to lead us to victory.
