How a University team became the National team

How a University team became the National team

Sometimes it doesnt take much to wake up a certain sport in a country and to make huge steps in popularizing it. Whether it is a good result, raise of enthusiasm or it just happens naturally. Whatever it is made Serbia having their first female futsal team. And that could not be possible without European Universities Games in Zagreb and university sport in general.

Everything started in 2015 when two university sport athletes from Belgrade, Marija Armus and Barbara Izgarevic became first two women licensed as futsal coaches.

Serbia Female Futsal Coaches

-        Our local University sport association in Belgrade decided for the first time in their history to send two girls to become licensed futsal coaches and it was me and Marija. I do not think it was by accident. We are great friends, and we really work good together. My area of expertise is physical education and hers is management – says Barbara for EUSA.

After getting their license the goal was to make first appereance at an international futsal competition. Barbara and Marija got the chance to lead the University of Belgrade futsal team and to make a team that would represent both country and the University abroad – at European Universities Games in Zagreb.

Serbia Men and Women Futsal team

-        The whole process was not easy. It took time to select the players, find space to practice and a coach experienced enough to make a good team as soon as possible. Girls were really glad, we had help from famous futsal coach Dusan Matic and we were ready to go to EUG in Zagreb. – Continues Marija.

At their first competition they won 9th place but more important was that they created interest in the futsal public that women futsal team shoud exists and made a cornerstone for something more important.

-        This year we will play qualifications for the first European female futsal Championship. We had conversations with our football association and convinced them that we need a female futsal national team. This fall we will make our debut wearing the national team jersey and listen to the national anthem. Because almost every active female futsal players started and still play in the university futsal competition and surely nothing would have happen without Europena Universities Games in Zagreb. Unfortunately we will not compete in Coimbra, but the plan is to win one of the medals in the near future. – Concludes Barbara Izgarevic for EUSA website.