County Derry futsal club are looking to expand their underage setup to city of Derry

Claudy Futsal Club is looking to expand their underage setup to the city of Derry. 

The club is currently running a summer camp to introduce kids to the sport, but they want to give children in Derry the chance to experience it too. 

Jonny Kavanagh, their coach, enjoys the experience of exposing children to the sport due to the benefits it has for them when they play football. 

He said: “It is a really fast game, but you are on the ball more. You get 600% more touches on the ball compared to 11 aside, which will increase your technical ability as you are on the ball more.

“The speed of thought and decision-making is heightened as you are playing in a tight space and you need to be able to work the ball out. 

“We play King of the Ring, where players have to work the ball out of a tight space, and I have seen lads at our club work it out when being pressed by seven or eight players. It is incredible to see their technical ability.

“There is constant movement to make angles to work the ball out. 

“It allows players to be creative compared to football; look at the likes of players like Ronaldinho, who brought what he learned from futsal to football.”

Ronaldinho is one of many futsal players to have made it as professional footballers, with the sport being a phenomenon, particularly in Brazil and Portugal. 

But the sport has expanded around the world, with major clubs looking at clubs and the players they produce due to their technical ability. 

Mr. Kavanagh said: “Premier League sides are seeing the benefits of futsal. It is fantastic for player development.

“There are so many stories of kids aged six or seven being scouted by Manchester academies from futsal sides.

“Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United, Micah Hamilton at Man City, and Jayden Danns at Liverpool. Those three lads were all scouted from Manchester futsal club. They were told to play football alongside their futsal, and it has worked for them.”

Mr. Kavanagh, having played the sport himself and seeing the benefits for his son playing in the Omagh club, launched the Claudy Futsal Club.

Previously, the club had run sessions throughout the city with different football clubs to expand the sport, but there is hope to run consistent sessions in the city. 

He said: “We have set up bookings with multiple arenas to run sessions ready to go if there is demand. 

“Bookings are set up with Foyle, Bishops Field, Templemore, and Brooke Park.

“There are loads of opportunities in futsal; it has the same format as football, from leagues to the Champions League and the Euros.”

The sport is growing in Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast, as Sparta Futsal has hosted a number of Belfast festival of futsal events. 

Inviting teams from Britain to Belfast to compete, but they have kept this opportunity away from other futsal clubs in Northern Ireland, according to Mr. Kavanagh. 

Yet the work being done by him and his club in Claudy is not going unnoticed. 

He said: “One of the proudest moments I have had was when we were personally invited down by the Northern Ireland squad because of the impact we are having with the boys being mascots for the Northern Ireland international game in March ahead of the Futsal Euros.

“It has been worth all the time and effort to see the enjoyment in the kids, along with their increased technical ability and the memories we have created.”

Claudy Futsal Club will continue to run their summer camp at the Diamond Centre Sports Hall, with dates including July 24-26, August 5th, 6th, and 8th, with more dates to be confirmed. 

All kids are welcome with all camps free of charge, as they are covered by Good Relations Funding.

You can contact Mr. Kavanagh on this phone number 07541590221, this link to the clubs Facebook page and through this email, jonnymed1c@hotmail.com