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Ashburn Freedom 2008 U.S. Futsal National Champions
The Rising U11 Ashburn Freedom competed in the 2008 U.S.
Futsal National Championship (U10 girls division), in Baltimore Maryland,
having multiple games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After a challenging pool
play the Freedom would have to face the #1 seed and undefeated team from pool B in the semi finals, Sunday morning.
The Freedom played their best soccer and won 6-1. The win set up a rematch with the #1
seed and undefeated team from pool A in the Championship game, the Winslow Tigers from N.J.
Both teams played very well with the Ashburn Freedom winning the championship 3-2.
The United States FUTSAL® Federation (USFF) is the national
governing body for the sport of Futsal, in the United States. Futsal is the way the
world plays indoor soccer. It is played on all the continents of the world in over
100 countries by more than 12 million players. The president and CEO of the USFF, Alexander J.C. Para,
presented the national championship cup and metals to each Freedom player. He noted,
“The Freedom team is the first team from the state of Virginia to ever win a Futsal
National Championship in any age division boys or girls.” This makes their accomplishment even more special.
The national championship is played two years on the East Coast, then shifts to two years on the West Coast.
For more information on the Futsal National Championships go to http://www.futsal.org/index.php/national-championship .
The Freedom girls are coached by Cliff Samodurov and Falayi Adu.
They both were pleased with the girl’s ability to adapt to a different type
of game then the outdoor game. Quickness and speed are important and the futsal
game demands a good first touch. One or two touch passes are the norm for this quick paced game.
The coaches both stated that the more they play and get to know the futsal game the more value
they see in helping players in development. “We are so pleased with the girls and their effort,
they deserve a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!”
Great job Ashburn Freedom .
by Coach Cliff S. 7/15/08
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