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posted 02/25/2012 Members of Valeo's U11 soccer team anchored the Black Knights Futsal squad that represented the New England region at the 2012 United States Futsal National Championships. The National tournament was held at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas, on February 18th through 20th. Futsal is a version of indoor soccer played according to rules and regulations officially sanctioned by FIFA, the worldwide governing body for soccer. Futsal is a major spectator sport throughout the world and is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.
Valeo U11 players Tom Andreae, Henri Appel, Jonathan Ferreira, Rahul Manwani, Michael Montanaro, Sebastian Pebler, Declan Sung, Luke Szameitat, and Julian Wambach were joined by MAPLE AC Milan players Alex Rokosz and Zeus Hines to form a Massachusetts based team led by Valeo U11 Coach John Montanaro.
Competing against the nation's elite clubs, the Black Knights started tentatively, losing their first pool game 5-4. They came back strong in their second game, defeating the defending National Champion GLF All Stars from Cleveland, Ohio 9-4 in one of the highlight games of the tournament, with Jonathan Ferreira erupting for 5 goals. The Black Knights next overwhelmed Major Soccer League (MSL) DC United affiliate DCFA from Baltimore, Maryland, 8-5. The Black Knights were the last New England boys team to remain in contention at Nationals when they battled MSL Sporting KC affiliate BVSC from Kansas City, Missouri. The Black Knights controlled the tempo throughout the game, but struck the goal posts 4 times and were denied several goals by outstanding goalkeeping before losing a heartbreaker, 6-5 on two late goals by Kansas City. In the National Championship finals, Cleveland defeated Kansas City 4-3 to repeat as National Champions, but the U11 Black Knights left the tournament having established themselves among the best of the best.
The Black Knights is an "invitation only" Futsal team with a specific goal of competing and winning at the National level. Valeo is proud that our U11 boys formed the core of the Black Knights U11 squad this year. Futsal is a fundamental part of Valeo winter training, and we believe it to be among the best ways to develop quick thinking, fast footwork and pinpoint passing. The court size and surface, the smaller and denser ball, and rules of the game reward creativity and technique while mandating ball control and crisp, efficient passing. Futsal has been instrumental in developing the skills of many of the world's best international players, including soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka and Katia. It is no coincidence that two of the greatest soccer countries, Spain and Brazil, play a fluent passing style of soccer and have also won every FIFA Futsal World Cup played, dating back to the inaugural tournament in the 1980s.
Congratulations to Coach Montanaro, his U11 team, and the Valeo players who represented New England so well with their outstanding showing at the National Championships. We also congratulate Valeo players Robbie Montanaro and Leon Szameitat, who were selected to play on the Massachusetts U16 team that competed at Nationals. By all accounts, it was an incredible and thrilling experience for all who made the trip and we couldn't be more proud of our players and their accomplishments.
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