Baichung Bhutia campaigns for Futsal

Kolkata, Nov 5 (UNI) India's soccer captain Baichung Bhutia has said the UB Group's Futsal project is a unique attempt which could lead India to a greater height in achieving quality soccer.

Bhutia said futsal, a shorter version of soccer played in covered stadium, has huge potentiality because of small budget, less time and five-a-side sport.

Bhutia, who appeared during launching of UB Group's Futsal projects for five cities from November 23, said here yesterday that the efforts of the company was needed to garner huge support from the people to make things move.

The UB Group will host futsal championships in Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bangalore and Kochi for 45 days, an attempt first of its kind in India, though it played in western and south American nations.

Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa and Bhutia's Mohun Bagan mate Jose Ramirez Barreto echoed the Indian soccer captain and said futsal propaganda meant a benefit of soccer promotion.

Bencherifa, a citizen of Morroco, said any positive move was always welcome.

He said Brazil are an example country where both soccer and futsal are played with hugh enthusiasm.

Futsal has its origin in the South American countries of Uruguay and Brazil in the 1930s and is now recognised by world soccer body FIFA.

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