National Team Coach Eyes Growth Amid Most Competitive Season Yet

Zambia Futsal is set to benefit from a planned visit of a Spanish physical trainer at the close of next month.

During the break, the players and coaches will receive training in new and modern techniques overseen by Enrique ‘Chicho’ Ibanez Ramos.

In an exclusive interview with FullTime, Futsal national team coach Andrea Cristoforetti disclosed that the visit of Chicho will culminate in a physical training course.

“So overall we closed the season now; at the end of the month we’ll have the physical trainer of Spain,” Cristoforetti said.

“He’s coming to have a course with us, for us, training sessions. And he’s a friend of mine, and he’s one of the best in the world, actually, to do the physical training. And we’re looking forward to that. That will happen at the end of May.”

The FAZ Premier Futsal League season concluded on 23rd April, and Cristoforetti guided LSK Automatic to a recorded eighth title.

They beat CSS Petauke, though Cristoforetti noted that competition was tough throughout the season.

He states that it was not an easy finale, as CSS Petauke managed to beat his side in the regular season matches.

“Against CSS Petauke, we lost both games in the league. It’s the only two games we’ve lost in the whole season, so we were ready for the battle, and I was very curious to see also my boys, how they would mentally react,” Cristoforetti said.

“The truth is we prepared well, and the games went our way from the beginning in both games. In the first game, there were two, actually three, key players missing for them. So, let’s say it was probably easier. In the second game, they came with a full squad because they had also been red-carded in the first final, Game 1, so the second game was more competitive.”

Cristoforetti has also observed that the season has been competitive as the winning margins have reduced in the Premier League.

“We’ve witnessed, season by season, a growth, like little steps forward. This season particularly has been the most competitive so far. In the past, Automotive would often win by large margins, like 10-1 or 12-2, even in the finals. And I have to say the gap is closing, which is great,” he stated.

“So it has been really, really the most competitive season so far. The gap is closing really, and throughout the new camps that we’re doing, I’m trying to call more and more players. We have, at the moment, quite a wide and big group of players that we will prepare for the next international competition.”