Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
AMABHUBESI FC will be crowned champions of the Futsal Southern Region Five-A-Side League champions on 30 November at Grassroots Soccer Football for Hope Centre in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo.
In the nine-member league, Amabhubesi FC emerged as the champions with 43 points, seven ahead of Fox, who finished as the first runners-up.
“We have thought of crowning our champions in style. In that regard we are going to have a challenge tournament that will see the league winners battle against Fox and two school teams who are in the Futsal Northern Region League,” said National Futsal Association chairman, Philani Banda.
He added: “We are happy that the Southern Region League once again had a smooth sailing season. As we will crown the champions, we want to encourage all our affiliates to consider a professional approach to the game.”
The league also has Entumbane Stars, Nedbank, Mictech Stars, Black Spartans, Mzilikazi United, Emeralds and TNS Rovers as part of its affiliates. Entumbane Stars finished the season on number three with 27 points while Nedbank ended in number four, five points adrift from the latter.
Five-A-Side football is a version of mini-football, in which each team fields five players, four on-field players and a goalkeeper.
Other differences from association football include a smaller pitch, smaller goals and a reduced game duration. Matches are played indoors, or outdoors on artificial grass pitches that may be enclosed within a barrier or “cage” to prevent the ball from leaving the playing area and keep the game constantly flowing. – @FungaiMuderere
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