New Delhi,dec 24
The Indian national women’s futsal camp, in preparation for next month’s AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers, is in full swing in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The year 2025 is set to mark a significant milestone for Indian futsal as the qualifiers will represent the nation’s competitive debut in the women’s game.Less than two years ago, the Indian men’s futsal team debuted in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tajikistan. Despite losing all three games, India showcased a spirited performance, scoring 10 goals and demonstrating dynamic, fast-paced play. The head coach at the time, Joshuah Stan Vaz, will also lead the women’s side in their international debut. India is scheduled to face Hong Kong on January 15, Indonesia on January 17, and the Kyrgyz Republic on January 19 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.From over a hundred players who participated in selection trials in early November, the squad has been narrowed down to 18 players currently undergoing the final phase of preparation. The first phase of the camp concluded on November 25, and the second phase commenced on December 15.
Speaking to the-aiff.com from the Bhavnagar camp, head coach Vaz remarked, “We had given the girls a fitness programme during the break between the camps. They have returned in good shape, maintaining their fitness. We have been working on our tactics, focusing on the system we aim to employ in the tournament, both in attack and defence. Set pieces have also been a key area of focus. While we have covered much ground in the first week of this phase, there is still significant work to be done in the next two and a half weeks before the tournament.”Many of the players, primarily footballers, had little experience with competitive futsal and have had to adjust to playing on hard indoor courts. However, Vaz expressed satisfaction with their rapid adaptation and progress.”I was initially sceptical, but the girls have proven me wrong in many ways. They’ve embraced tactics I thought would be challenging for them. Transitioning from football to futsal was tough, given the differences in playing surfaces and ball dynamics, but they’ve adapted remarkably well,” said Vaz.”We started from scratch because, even though a few players had played futsal, it wasn’t the correct form. We had to teach them the rules and systems from the ground up. It’s like drawing on a blank canvas, but they’ve grasped the concepts well.
