BAREFOOT: The Beach Soccer Mag - ISSUE 05

MAURICINHO

THE WORLD’S BEST!

#05

HUAWEI INTERCONTINENTAL CUP DIGEST

OUR EXCLUSIVE REVIEW OF ANOTHER THRILLING EVENT IN DUBAI

ALI TARGHOLIZADEH THE AFC HEAD OF BEACH SOCCER DEVELOPMENT EXPLAINS WHY ASIA HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR BEACH SOCCER

BEACH SOCCER STARS

A FULL ROUND-UP OF WHO WON WHAT AT OUR STAR-STUDDED GALA

04 - CONTENTS

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HUAWEI INTERCONTINENTAL BEACH SOCCER CUP DUBAI 2017 SPECIAL REVIEW

IN THIS ISSUE...

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October saw the return of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup to Dubai, with the world’s best nations helping to ensure five days of thrilling action. Review all the thrills and spills with us.

BEACH SOCCER STARS November’s gala evening in Dubai saw the sport’s best honoured for their achievements.

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BSWW OVERALL RANKING

It’s all change in the rankings after a busy month.

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FOUNDATION

Another clinic in Mexico helps spread our positive message.

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FUELLED

What temptations should we avoid these Christmas?

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORKSHOP Beach soccer’s stakeholders gathered once again to discuss the sport’s biggest issues.

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ONCE UPON A TIME

We take things old school with a look through the archives.

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FAN PICS ALI TARGHOLIZADEH

The AFC’s Head of Beach Soccer Development talks us through the game’s rise in the region.

VISIT PUERTO VALLARTA CUP

Top-drawer beach soccer returned to the Mexican resort in October.

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Your best beach soccer pictures from across the globe.

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BEACH SOCCER TV The must-watch videos from the world of beach soccer.

ADIDAS TELSTAR

QUIQUE SETIÉN

Get up close and personal with the official beach soccer The Real Betis coach and former Spanish beach soccer ball for 2018. star sits down for a chat with BAREFOOT.

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COMING UP

What’s next in the calendar?

06 - KICKING OFF

KICKING OFF Hello everyone, So, here we are - approaching the end of another hugely successful beach soccer year.

I’ll get to all the thrilling action we’ve seen shortly but I wanted to start with what has been the biggest news of the year for our sport as a whole, which is FIFA’s renewed commitment to beach soccer.

As I confirmed in Dubai recently, our sport is now in the FIFA programme for 2018 to 2024 and we will continue to hold the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup every two years from 2019. After some uncertainty, this is clearly a major step forward for us all and allows us to continue working towards growing the sport and building on the work of recent years.

We can also look forward to another big adventure coming up: the World Beach Games, confirmed for 2019 in San Diego (USA) where beach soccer will again feature as one of the main attractions.

The last 12 months have seen so many amazing events and, at Stars Night, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017 in The Bahamas was crowned the best amid some fierce competition from a number of top events.

Whoever next puts on the competition will have some big shoes to fill after Nassau proved exceptional hosts for a tournament that reinforced beach soccer’s reputation in the Caribbean.

Following on swiftly from the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was the 20th edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League. The league is a staple part of our calendar and consistently proves popular among players and teams, with this year welcoming two new venues in the form Nazaré and Warnemünde - both of which received positive feedback from those involved.

Asuncion (Paraguay) and Yadz and Beshr (Iran) also featured in our calendar for the first time this year while Puerto Vallarta in Mexico made a welcome return after seven years away, with all these places valued parts of the beach soccer family.

Last but not least, as we promised to do, women’s beach soccer has made very positive steps in its development over the last few months with female tournaments at the Euro Beach Soccer Cup, Euro Winners Cup and Visit Puerto Vallarta Cup all helping advance this side of the sport.

Women’s beach soccer remains a big priority for us, so stay tuned over the next few weeks and months for developments in this area.

We’re not done for the year just yet, as we have the Mundialito de Clubes in Brazil and the Copa Lagos in Nigeria to come in December before attention turns to 2018 and what we’re sure will be another positive year for our sport.

Thank you all once again for your support and enthusiasm for our game.

Editorial Director Iñaki Uribarri Editor-in-Chief Matthew Rogerson Design Director Laura Cuscó Design Manager Marta Cuscó Photographers Lea Weil Manuel Queimadelos Contributors Lautaro Alborelo TV & Sponsorship Alex Soriano Edited by Beach Soccer Worldwide, SL Executive Vice-president Joan Cuscó

Joan Cuscó BSWW Vice-president and FIFA Beach Soccer CEO

08 - SNAPPED

VIVA MEXICO! The Mexican coast provided the perfect backdrop for the Visit Puerto Vallarta Cup in September.

10 - SNAPPED

GIRL POWER The three nominees for the inaugural Best Women’s Player award at Beach Soccer Stars.

(L-R) Grytsje van den Berg (NED), Sarah Kempson (ENG) and Leticia Villar (BRA)

12 - SNAPPED

SHUKRAN, DUBAI! Beach soccer was again the talk of the town during the recent Huawei Intercontinental Cup.

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OVER THE TOP Portugal’s Bruno Torres with a typically committed attempt to win the ball from Brazil captain Bruno Xavier.

16 - SNAPPED

SEE THE LIGHT

Russia’s Boris Nikonorov walks into action in Dubai.

18 - IN FIGURES

THE SEASON IN NUM

585 games ...were played this year across 28 international top-flight competitions organised or sanctioned by BSWW.

23 countries ...from all over the world have hosted top-flight international beach soccer event in 2017, including nations in Asia, Europe, South, Cental and North America and Africa.

4,717 goals ...were scored across the year, with the world’s best player Mauricinho (BRA) responsible for 54 of them in all official competitions. Gabriele Gori (ITA) is his closest challenger ahead of Noel Ott (SUI), Rodrigo (BRA) and Ihar Bryshtsel (BLR). Glafira Bazhanova (RUS) was the leading women’s scorer with 13 goals, followed by WFC Zvezda compatriot Natalia Zaitseva.

MBERS

174 teams ...took part in competitions this season, of which 26 were women’s teams. The overall figure of 174 includes 88 National teams (male) and 86 clubs (female).

1.2m viewers ...tuned in to catch the games online via our live streaming platform, with many more watching on television.

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22 - SPECIAL REVIEW

BEACH SOCCER MAKES STU

B

razil’s incredible winning run continued in Dubai as they clocked up their 47th consecutive victory by beating Portugal to lift the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup. Twelve months on from lifting the title in Dubai, Gilberto Costa’s men reclaimed the trophy in Marasi Business Bay with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over their traditional rivals in a final befitting one of the biggest tournaments in the sport’s calendar between the world’s top two nations.

The Brazilians actually got the ball rolling at the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup as they contested the first match against Egypt, recovering from an uncharacteristically sluggish start to pick up an 11-3 win.

Portugal were given a tougher test on day one before eventually seeing off hosts UAE 6-4 - while Russia and Iran also picked up opening-day wins on a day of few shocks.

The latter pair made it two wins from two a day later, after a late goal from Egypt’s Moustafa Shaaban gave them victory over UAE, but the game of the day was undoubtedly between the world’s top two nations - Brazil and Portugal.

Like in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the BSWW Mundialito in Cascais, it was the Brazilians who came out on top to effectively ensure the world champions top spot.

The positions and identities of the other semi-finalists would be settled on the Wednesday with Portugal progressing to the final four with victory on penalties against Egypt before Russia got past Iran in extra-time to avoid a semi-final meeting with Brazil.

UNNING RETURN TO DUBAI The world’s best nations gathered in Dubai to put on a show

24 - SPECIAL REVIEW

Gilberto’s men - well in their groove by this stage - warmed up for their semi-final against Iran by putting 15 past UAE, setting a competition record in the process.

On the penultimate day of competition, Portugal’s clash with Russia was the first of the semi-finals as the two heavyweights met for the first time since September’s Euro Beach Soccer League final in Terracina.

Things appeared on course for another Russian victory midway through the second period when Artur Paporotnyi made it 2-1, only for Mario Narciso’s side to battle back and win courtesy of goals from goalkeeper Elinton Andrade and Jordan Santos.

Holders Brazil would then join them in Saturday’s showpiece final thanks to a thrilling 6-4 win over Iran.

A hat-trick from Mostafa Kiani threatened to cause an upset as Iran battled back late in the final period, but a late strike from Mauricinho in the final frame helped settle any Brazil nerves as they set up a reunion with Portugal.

Paraguay kicked off the final day with a 3-0 win over Mexico to wrap up seventh spot before UAE got revenge against Egypt in the fifth-place play-off with a narrow 2-1 win.

As expectation grew towards the final match-up, Russia and Iran served up a thrilling contest as Hamid Behzadpour, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh, Mohammad Morandi and Kiani helped seal a 4-2 win against Russia in the battle for third.

While the penultimate clash was a fascinating affair, packed with goals, Saturday’s final proved keenly contested with second-period goals from Bokinha and Filipe Silva doing the damage, while veteran goalkeeper Mao pulled off a series of stops to thwart any Portuguese hopes of a comeback.

Mão’s impressive displays were rewarded with the Best Goalkeeper prize, while team-mate Rodrigo picked up the tournament’s MVP award, with Portugal’s Jordan Santos finishing the tournament atop the scoring charts thanks to his eight-goal haul.

With the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup confirmed and renewed for the coming three years, Brazil will return once again to target a third successive success as their nearest challengers seek to close the gap.

Brazil’s Rodrigo picked up the tournament’s MVP award

26 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

BEACH SOCCER STA

The gala evening saw hundreds of attendees including players,

coaches and officials

ARS SHINES AGAIN

F

ollowing the culmination of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup, the sport’s stars gathered for Beach Soccer Stars as its best players and coaches were honoured.

With hundreds of attendees - players, coaches and other officials - from all corners of the globe in attendance, the gala evening would hand out seven individual awards as well as the Five Stars for beach soccer’s all-star team.

Following some brief opening speeches from Beach Soccer Worldwide’s Executive Vice-president Joan Cusco and Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, the Best Event award was handed out to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017.

The showpiece event, held in Nassau, The Bahamas, across April and May last year hosted the most prestigious event in the sport’s calendar as Brazil claimed the world title under the tutelage of Gilberto Costa.

And Gilberto would be rewarded for his work in The Bahamas when he was given the Best Coach prize - as voted for by his peers from teams across the world.

As well as masterminding Brazil’s Vth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup title, Gilberto’s side have claimed a host of titles in recent months and also boast a 45-match winning streak.

Iran’s Peyman Hosseini was the next to be recognised for his work on the sand as the goalkeeper beat off a host of talent to see his strike in Nassau named Best Goal.

Hosseini found the top corner in Iran’s 3-2 win against Mexico back in April and saw the shot crowned the best following a vote at www.beachsoccer.com, with the Iranian also picking up the Best Goalkeeper award.

In between his two awards, Russia’s Boris Nikonorov was named Rising Star - a prize given to the sport’s most promising prospect, with the forward receiving his trophy from previous winner Rodrigo from Brazil.

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Five Stars - one of the most anticipated awards of the evening was next - with Mao, Bruno Xavier and Mauricinho, fresh from their Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup success in Dubai, the first three names to be drawn out.

Former Rising Star Noel Ott was the fourth to join the team before Mohammad Ahmadzadeh completing the dream team line-up.

Five Stars is formed based on votes from players across the world, with Mauricinho ultimately gathering the most selections from his peers to be named Best Men’s Player, while the list of prizes was concluded with the first award for Best Women’s Player.

With the female side of the game continuing to grow apace, the three nominees for the inaugural award were England’s Sarah Kempson, Leticia Villar of Brazil and the Netherlands’ Grytsje van den Berg.

Ultimately it was England and Portsmouth midfielder Kempson who landed the prize, bringing the curtain down on another magical Stars Night.

The first Best Women’s Player award was handed out to England’s

Sarah Kempson

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BEST WOMEN’S PLAYER

Sarah Kempson of England and Portsmouth Ladies wrote her name into the history books when she was named Best Women’s Player in Dubai.

This year was the first time that the women’s game has been honoured in such a way within beach soccer, with Euro Beach Soccer Cup-winning England skipper Kempson holding off competition from Brazil’s Leticia Villar and Grytsje van den Berg of the Netherlands to win the trophy.

BEST MEN’S PLAYER

After a stellar year in which the Brazilian picked up the Silver Ball at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, while his team lifted the title, Mauricinho’s now-official status as the best of the best should come as no surprise.

The 27-year-old possesses skill and pace in equal measure and has become a key figure in Gilberto Costa’s all-conquering Brazil team, making it clear why his opponents around the world now consider him the main man in a team already packed with stars.

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BEST 5 STARS

(L-R) Mohammed Ahmadzadeh (IRN), Noel Ott (SUI), Mauricinho (BRA), Bruno Xavier (BRA) and Mao (BRA)

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RISING STAR

Russia’s Boris Nikonorov has enjoyed a stellar 2017 campaign and his potential to improve even further saw him pick up the Rising Star prize - given out to the sport’s hottest prospect.

Nikonorov provided much of the firepower for Russia’s Euro Beach Soccer League title success in Jesolo as he helped his country recover from their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017 absence to reestablish themselves among Europe’s elite.

Now a key part of Mikhail Likhachev’s plans, Nikonorov, 28, is sure to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

BEST GOALKEEPER & BEST GOAL

Any great team needs to be built on strong foundations and that’s certainly the case with Iran and their multi-talented goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini.

The hugely capable Hosseini not only pulls off some wonderful saves, he also weighs in with his fair share of goals such as the one he produced in the win against Mexico at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. With a goalkeeper so adept with the ball at his foot that he almost serves as a sixth outfield player, it’s easy to see why Iran value Hosseini so much and why his fellow goalkeepers rate him so highly.

36 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

BEST EVENT

The most prestigious event of the 2017 calendar is now officially the best of the best - with the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Nassau picking up the Best Event award.

Held in The Bahamas during April and May last year, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup brought the best players and nations in the world to compete in front of a passionate home crowd in a brand new, state-of-the-art, custom built facility in the heart of the city.

BEST COACH

Brazil have been, quite literally, unstoppable since Gilberto Costa took the helm, with the world champions boasting an incredible 47-match winning run as well as countless trophies.

A popular figure both within his own national team camp and outside, Gilberto was voted the sport’s best coach shortly after Brazil successfully defended the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup title in Dubai.

The challenge now for the Brazilian is to maintain their extraordinary record into the new year and beyond.

38 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

FIFA BEACH SOCCER W BRINGS POSITIVE NEW

A

proud beach soccer tradition was upheld in Dubai earlier this month as the FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop took place ahead of the penultimate day of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup. The 2017 edition was the sixth to take place and once again served as a reference point for education within the sport as coaches, players and various other stakeholders met to discuss its biggest issues.

from world football’s governing body allowed the BSWW chief to confirm that the sport will continue within the wider FIFA programme for the next six years.

“The FIFA Council has announced beach soccer is 100 per cent inside FIFA and inside the programme,” Cusco said within his welcome speech to attendees.

On a warm, sunny morning in the UAE - rather than saving the best news until last - guests were able to hear one of the biggest announcements for years from within the beach soccer landscape courtesy of Beach Soccer Worldwide’s Executive Vice-president, Joan Cusco early on in proceedings.

“So from 2018 to 2024, beach soccer is in the programme for FIFA competitions and we managed to approve the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for 2019 and it will remain every two years. The World Beach Games will also happen in San Diego in October 2019 and beach soccer is a fundamental part of it, so this gets us closer to the Olympics.”

While the sport’s future has been less than certain of late, following recent structural and personnel changes at FIFA, recent developments

With things off to a good start, it was time for one of the most anticipated items on the agenda, with Brazil’s FIFA Beach Soccer

WORKSHOP WS

The sport’s key stakeholders met to discuss, learn and share ideas

World Cup-winning coach Gilberto Costa offering guests an insight into the world champions’ all-conquering approach.

Beach soccer will once again feature at the Games in Minsk, Belarus, and O’Callaghan urged those within the sport to keep dreaming big.

Speaking prior to the successful defence of their Dubai title, Gilberto - former coach of both the UAE and Belarus - spoke about Brazil’s physical and mental preparations as well as the need to learn from any setbacks and defeats.

“For the IOC and the EOC, we wanted to use the European Games as a springboard for new sports to hopefully be in the Olympics later down the line,” he pointed out.

“Brazil will lose, maybe tonight or tomorrow, maybe next month of next year,” he explained. “I know we will lose eventually but if you give your best, that’s the most important. Defeat is important to learn.”

Having already heard positive news regarding the future of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, there was then a positive message regarding the sport’s other great hope - the Olympics - courtesy of Pierce O’Callaghan, Senior Consultant for the European Games.

“We had four non-Olympic sports at the Games in 2015, including beach soccer, and two of those will be Olympic sports in Tokyo in 2020. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. We had applications from 45 sports so you can see how competitive it is, but the EOC weigh up the value of each sport and beach soccer is one of the 15.

This shows that beach soccer is a very important part of the European Olympic family.”

After a round table discussion regarding the issue of player transfers within the club game, the workshop continued with an informative

40 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

briefing from Todd Knapton of Hutcheson Sand and Mixes about the importance of sand quality within the sport, especially in relation to playing standard, drainage and injury reduction, before a runthrough of the Technical Study Group’s Report from the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup by BSWW’s Head of Competitions Josep Ponset.

with more than 130 national teams.

A speech from Carlos Coutada of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) regarding the country’s impressive national championship followed before BSWW’s Deputy Vice-president, Gabino Renales offered a glimpse at 2018’s calendar.

Although focus swiftly turned to the action on the sand, and the final two days of beach soccer in Dubai, the overwhelming feeling that was left was a positive one.

While it remains very much a work in progress, Renales was able to confirm: “As it stands, we have more than 30 events in the calendar for next year in more than 20 countries, present in all five continents

“We’ve also tried to keep a number of weekends free for national championships so that they don’t clash with international competitions.”

With the sport’s future in FIFA assured, its place in Dubai renewed for three more years and further positive steps towards an Olympic future having been made, the foundations are well and truly in place for a positive few years to come.

Beach soccer is all set to return to Minsk in 2018!

42 - THE INTERVIEW

“ASIA HAS ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR BEACH SOCCER”

BY ALI TARGHOLIZADEH, AFC HEAD OF FUTSAL AND BEACH SOCCER DEVELOPMENT

B

each soccer is gradually gaining more and more importance among the football family in Asia, and we are now on the verge of making some truly significant steps in our quest to take the sport to a new level.

It is undeniable that Asia has great potential. Apart from the fact that two thirds of the world’s population live here, we also have the required facilities and great financial support. We just need to make it happen by working in concise and clear planning structures to ensure we take the next steps to success.

Like in beach soccer, winning and losing is part of life, but with thorough and committed work you can improve and come back stronger – something we are willing and prepared to do.

Twenty of our countries and national football associations are already involved in beach soccer, with many of those teams taking part in international competitions.

Some of the countries, of course, have a more advanced level of development, with top-class teams and very powerful national championships that have players playing for seven or eight months, such as Iran or Japan, for example.

Indeed, all development comes from teaching and learning and we have always believed that national championships are key to the sport’s evolution within a country. With national championships you improve players and give them more experience.

We have a great example of that in Iran - a country where we have different divisions, different age categories and women’s competitions.

This is a crucial aspect - quality beach soccer players are not made by accident, they develop through participation, increased competition, matches and experience. For any federation keen to develop beach soccer, one of the primary objectives needs to be the promotion of the competitions, to give talent the chance to flourish.

Many countries are following that example and we have had positive communications with many of them, including Thailand, who have begun the process towards assembling a national beach soccer league. China is also leading an ambitious program, which has seen them build many pitches and put a strong focus on the sport’s development.

I see a great future for beach soccer in the region in the coming ten years. The sport has great potential, with plenty of goals and spectacle for crowds, while players can develop their skillset all the while reducing the risk of injuries by playing on the sand.

Similarly, educational resources such as the recent FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop in Dubai are always a great idea and a valuable tool to foster the growth of the game. Having witnessed such enriching discussions in Dubai, with so many experts from many countries and confederations sharing their knowledge, it is clear that events like this contribute a great deal towards beach soccer’s future also.

“Beach soccer is gaining more importance in Asia.�

44 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

BEACH SOCCER IS PUERTO VALLART T

op-class beach soccer returned to the Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta in October with both men’s and women’s competitions on the agenda.

The Visit Puerto Vallarta Cup represented the sport’s first appearance in the city since 2010 when it hosted the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, as hosts Mexico took on neighbours USA, France and Colombia in the men’s tournament.

In the women’s side of the competition, European heavyweights Spain made the trip to the west coast of Mexico for a double-header against the home nation who were playing competitively for the first time.

Friday’s action was limited to just the men’s competition, with the opening day providing plenty of goals as USA got past France 6-5 before Mexico gave their home fans cause for celebration by way of a 5-2 win against Colombia.

The women’s teams from Spain and Mexico then met for the first time on Saturday afternoon, in a closely fought contest with late goals from Andrea Miron Castro and Carla Morera Rincon helping ensure Spain a 3-1 win against Maribel Dominguez’s hosts.

Focus then returned to the men’s division as Mexico and the United states picked up their second victories over France and Colombia respectively to ensure a meeting in Sunday’s final.

The third and final day began with Spain beating Mexico for the second time in as many days - in emphatic fashion this time with an 8-1 win as Alba Mellado grabbed a hattrick in a dominant win.

In the penultimate match of the event, Anthony Barbotti’s four-goal haul inspired France to a thrilling 5-4 win against Colombia in the battle avoid bottom spot prior to the much anticipated final.

Mexico and the USA were level at 2-2 after 12 minutes with Benjamin Mosco and Lucas Roque adding one for each side in the second frame to set up a fascinating final period.

But two more strikes from four-goal Angel Rodriguez, including the decisive goal a minute from time, settled the match in Mexico’s favour.

Rodriguez’s winner sparked wild celebrations in the stands in Puerto Vallarta and, with packed-out stands, glorious weather and elite-level beach soccer, the sport is eagerly anticipating its return in 12 months’ time.

BACK IN TA

Locals were again treated to elite beach soccer with both men’s and women’s events

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The carioca retained the South American throne for 2017

VASCO DA GAMA REIGN IN ASUNCIÓN TREM BALA DEFEND THEIR COPA LIBERTADORES TITLE

C

lube Regatas Vasco da Gama remain on top of the South American club game, following a dominant display in the Copa Libertadores 2017, held in November in Asunción, Paraguay.

The Trem Bala da Praia did so in style once again, staying unbeaten through the entirety of the week-long competition, to claim their second consecutive Copa Libertadores title against Uruguay’s Club Malvin.

finish despite banking on world champions such as Mão, Bruno Xavier, Felipe and Datinha. The Tricolor de São Pantaleão were left out of the semi-finals after a tight defeat to hosts Garden Club.

Precisely, the Asunción-based side took on neighbours Universidad Autonoma in the game for the third place, following semi-final defeats to Vasco da Gama and Club Malvin, respectively.

In that game, which proved to be a real thriller for those in the stands, UAA bagged the bronze.

The world’s best player for 2017, Mauricinho, was on hand for the Vascainos to claim a new honour, together with an array of other Brazilian internationals such as Bokinha, Rafa Padilha, Lucão and Catarino.

Despite a 4-0 run for Universidad Autonoma in the first period, and a 5-3 streak in the second, Garden Club amazingly fought back in the last stage to add some drama.

Fellow Brazilian side Sampaio Correia, another of the teams carrying high pre-tournament expectations, could only manage a fifth-place

However, their reaction fell two goals short as Universidad Autonoma ended with the bronze medal.

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48 - PREVIEW

THE ADIDAS TELSTAR P A NEW BALL FOR A NEW

The new adidas Telstar Praia will be the official ball for the coming 2018 beach soccer season, and will also be available at the Beach Soccer Store early next year.

Get to know it a little better...

ADIDAS TESLTAR PRAIA · FIFA QUALITY PRO Matchball. · Durable machine stitched construction. · TPU cover with underglass print offers excellent abrasion resistance. · Double layer foam cushion fabric patched carcass provides soft touch and reliable rebound. · Butyl bladder offering excellent air retention.

PRAIA: W SEASON

The official ball for 2018 will be available soon at the Beach Soccer Store

50 - THE INTERVIEW

QUIQUE SETIÉN

“MY YEARS IN BEACH SOCCER WERE FANTASTIC.”

Q

uique Setien is one of the most in vogue coaches in Spanish Football - a coach on whom all of Europe focused their attention after beating Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu some weeks ago, and who has Real Betis playing some of the best football in the Liga Santander.

What many people might not know though, is that Setién was, for many years (1997-2003), a member of the Spanish Beach Soccer National Team, and the mentor of world-class beach soccer magician Ramiro Amarelle, before joining Russia as a technical director.

After more than 400 matches and 63 goals in Spanish’s Primera División with Racing de Santander, Atlético de Madrid and CD Logroñés, the Cantabrian joined the world of beach soccer, after an invitation he got from the current Spanish National Team, Joaquín Alonso.

He spent seven years playing for Spain, years he remembers as “a very happy time”. From that time, he keeps a lot of good memories and friends from that period, no less so than meeting his wife at a beach soccer competition. Whenever asked, he always recalls beach soccer with gratitude, and thanks Beach Soccer Worldwide for the opportunity.

Listening to him now as a coach, his passing and combinative philosophy, and the way he thinks a team should play takes us back to those years, in which his technique, his eye for a goal and his game-knowledge made him a popular figure among the beach soccer fans.

How did the opportunity to start playing beach soccer arrive?

It came short after I quit professional football. Around April, Joaquín (Alonso) phoned me and asked me if I wanted to play. I asked him some questions, because I didn’t know much about the game, and then I asked “Where are we playing?”. He said “In Miami”. I immediately said yes.

How were those first moments on the sand?

They were different than I expected, as I had always thought that we were supposed to play on a somehow hard surface, the kind of the Cantabrian beaches in low tide, but I got quickly used to it, and my interest in the game increased. I started training, studying the game, pushing myself more and more on the sand…

Once a competitive athlete, always a competitive athlete…

Well, yes… Beach Soccer gave us the opportunity to keep training, to keep competing, and to keep working our physical condition, and it was very good at that. It gave us the motivation that helped us keep feeling professional footballers.

What was the thing you liked the most about beach soccer?

Those were vere happy years. We had a lot of fun with the players.

Big names such as Butragueño, Míchel, Julio Salinas, Joaquín, Gordillo… We had a great time, and we had a great relationship amongst ourselves. We enjoyed that time a lot. I will never forget that, and I will always thank Beach Soccer Worldwide and Joan Cusco for giving us that opportunity and for having treated us the way they did.

And if you had to choose one single memory?

Wow, there are so many things I remember… I would choose maybe the years in which we became the Euro Beach Soccer League champions (1999 and 2000), and I was the top scorer of the tournament. That was a great feeling!

In those years, the Spanish National Team recruited Ramiro Amarelle, who later on became one of the biggest names in the sport. How do you remember that moment?

We saw him play in an event in Coruña, and I immediately though that that guy had a great talent. We asked him to join the team, and I was impressed by his behaviour, his humility, the way he behaved and how he knew to find his place amongst all those football professionals. He was a hard worker, always willing to improve, and that is exactly what made him the best player in the world.

52 - THE INTERVIEW

Another thing that people might not know is that you played a key role in the formation of the terrifically competitive Russian National Team, down in the early 2000s…

I got a proposal by Nicolai Pisarev, who was introduced to me by Popov, who was one of my teammates at Racing de Santander, and Valery Karpin, who I knew from the Spanish league. I was given a role as technical director, with the objective to find and train a new group of players that could offer a great competitiveness. We had our first training camp in Crimea, in Sebastopol, weeks before taking part in the Euro Beach Soccer Cup. And things worked pretty well, as we reached the final of the competition for the first time.

As a coach, you have always given the impression of being more a reflexive than an emotional human being.

Is that so?

That’s true. I am not an impulsive man. I always try to analyse things with perspective. I always try to see things not how they are now, but how they can be after some strategic moves…

And you have always said that you admired Cruyff’s philosophy.

Of course, because Cruyff taught us how to make things difficult from our opponents with a combinative play. It was just what I had always wanted, since I began playing football as a child. I passed the ball to those guys I knew would pass it back. If someone did not pass it back, I would not give him the ball again.

What were the coaches that left a bigger mark on you?

I would say Luis Aragonés, because of the energy he transmitted, and Paquito, for the knowledge of the game he managed to pass on to me.

We have seen you play chess a lot. Where does this passion come from?

I started playing when I was a little boy. My father taught me, and little afterwards I joined a club. I loved it, and even spent hours studying chess moves. I even took part in International competitions, but I quickly realised that I had a lot to learn…

Is it true that you played with Kasparov?

It is. And with Karpov, in one of those multiple chess games with like 30 contenders. It was an amazing experience… After the match, we went and play some football, too! I was playing for Atlético de Madrid at that time.

Does chess have a real application on football or beach soccer?

I do not know if it has a realistic transference, but it has given me lots of things: the capacity I have not to be impulsive, to think, analyse things calmly, to see where pieces can be after a couple of moves….

And what about the tactics?

There are of course some parallels, in the sense that your objective is to dominate the board, the pitch. Whoever dominates the pitch, or the chessboard, has great chances to win the game.

So, which is your ultimate goal as a coach?

I want my teams to play beautiful football. I want to be happy, enjoy football, although I know how this is all like. I am not anxious for joining a big club neither earning more money.

“Beach soccer allowed us to keep competing and having fun.�

54 - RANKING

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS BSWW OVERALL WORLD

RANKING

Unbeaten since 2015, Brazil remain top of the world ranking.

56 - QUARTERLY REVIEW

THE BEACH SOCCER FOUN LANDS IN MEXICO

I

n the midst of the Visit Puerto Vallarta Cup, players from all the nations involved headed down to the stadium for another special edition of the Beach Soccer Foundation Clinic.

There was even time for Candelaria Tovar de Davalos, wife of Puerto Vallarta’s Mayor Arturo Davalos, to hand out presents to all involved as the sport’s reputation was further cemented in the region.

On the Friday morning ahead of the first round of games, local children and young people from the Albuerge Vida Nueva (school) were treated to a very special lesson on the sand with the help of players from Mexico’s men’s and women’s teams.

Josep Ponset, Head of Competitions at Beach Soccer Worldwide, noted afterwards: “Events like this continue to showcase the positive impact beach soccer has around the world and it’s great to see so many smiling faces here.

Representatives were also on hand from Spain’s women’s teams as well as the USA, Colombia and France as the youngsters were put through their paces with a series of skills workshops and technical drills.

“It’s easy to focus too much on the leagues and competitions going on around the world but clinics like these are the real essence of our sport and they are a real pleasure to be involved in.”

After getting to grips with the ball on the sand, and a brief drinks break, it was time to put those new skills to the test in a match as the clinic drew to a close with smiles on faces all round.

With the Visit Puerto Vallarta Cup already slated for the coming years, it certainly won’t be the last time the Beach Soccer Foundation makes a visit to the region.

NDATION

Local youths headed down to the sand in Puerto Vallarta

58 - FUELLED

Why not be the family cook? It can be a win-win situation!

CHRISTMAS TEMPTATIONS

HOW TO STAY TRIM OVER THE HOLIDAYS

By Lautaro N. Arborelo Lautaro N. Arborelo is a qualified, professional nutrionist who has worked for FC Barcelona beach soccer team and other sports for a number of years.

Christmas and healthy nutrition can often be considered mutually exclusive.

That’s because Christmas is a time spent family and friends, often overindulging on delicious but high-calorie dishes. But it doesn’t have to be the case.

It is the duty of every athlete to take good care of themselves during over the holidays, because such excesses can affect our sporting performance. It also goes without saying to avoid too much alcohol and its wasted calories are nothing but harmful as well as those tempting cheat meals.

One way of being proactive about the situation is to cook the Christmas dinner yourself, or at least help out, and that way you can make a few changes to make sure it is as healthy as possible. Be the family cook and everybody will be happy!

And don’t forget to set aside time to train! Even though it’s a busy time for families and friends, and it’s often a cold time in many countries, you can still set aside time to keep up with your schedule, either in the gym or out on the sand.

What to do after Christmas In order to be in the best possible shape after all those Christmas meals, we need to increase the amount of fruit and veg in our diet, even between meals. It is not a good idea to go without eating for too long, as that can be counterproductive.

Try to eat more white fish, like monkfish, cod and hake) as well as lean meats such as chicken or rabbit. And avoid sauces as much as you can – try to use spices or other seasonings instead.

Plus, don’t forget to drink plenty of water, instead of opting for alcohol or sparkling or sugary drinks.

One last tip, which seems obvious but can make a big impact around Christmas. Use smaller dishes, so that the amount of food you eat is less.

60 - FROM THE ARCHIVES

ERIC CANTONA The legendary Frenchman in action in A CoruĂąa (Spain), in 1998 He remains one of the most iconic individuals in both football and beach soccer.

62 - FAN PICS

FAN PICS

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64 - BEACH SOCCER TV

MUST WATCH ON

Watch Now!

BEST MOMENTS HUAWEI INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 2017 Always one of the best events in the calendar, remind yourself of what the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup 2017 had to offer.

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BEACH SOCCER STARS NIGHT REVIEW Relive the awards, the speeches and the glitz and glamour of Stars Night,

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FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORKSHOP 2017 Experts from all over the world travelled again to Dubai to take part in the FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop 2017.

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BEST MOMENTS - VISIT PUERTO VALLARTA CUP Beach soccer made its longawaited return to Puerto Vallarta in September... and did so in style!

Watch Now! KEEPIE-UPPIE CHALLENGE: PAMPERO VS TONGA (URU) It’s the classic beach soccer challenge, given a Uruguayan twist as these two team-mates go head to head! Tune in to find out the winner!

66 -

CHRIS TOTH (USA) American goalkeeper Chris Toth is a steady presence in goal both in beach soccer and football.

ZAIDA CĂ CERES (ESP) Another product of the beautiful Canary Islands, Zaida helps keep crowds entertained around the world.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017

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70 - COMING UP

DEC 8TH - 10TH 2017 BSWW TOUR COPA LAGOS 2017 The most important beach soccer showdown in Africa returns for its sixth edition this year, bringing with it a unique combination of the sport’s best players, an incredible party atmosphere, fashion shows and live performances.

DEC 14TH - 17TH 2017

The national teams of Nigeria, Lebanon, Spain and Morocco will take part in what is one of the strongest line-ups the competition has seen.

MUNDIALITO DE CLUBES 2017

There will also be a club event that will see English champions Arsenal BSC compete outside the UK for the first time, doing so against Gidi Sharks, Kebbi BSC and the Pepsi Football Academy.

The Mundialito de Clubes, the most prestigious club competition in the sport, lands in Sao Paulo with teams from across the world heading to battle it out.

With a Beach Soccer Foundation activity also scheduled during the three-day event, it’s an event the sport is eagerly awaiting.

Corinthians are the host club and will go up against an array of domestic and international opponents over four days in what is always a thrilling contest.

Beach soccer returns to Dubai with eight top teams!