Futsal tourney to host 24 teams

JAKARTA: The Inspiro Futsal Championship 2003 for university students in Jakarta will be held from Oct. 14 to Oct. 24 with 24 teams set to compete for the total prize of Rp 25 million (approximately US$3,000).

Futsal is an indoor 5-a-side soccer game played on a court about the size of a basketball court, which has been growing in popularity recently, especially in Asia.

The teams will be divided into three groups in three separate venues. Group I will play its matches at the East Jakarta Sports Center on Jl Otista Raya, East Jakarta, Group II at the Penjaringan Sport Hall in Pluit, North Jakarta, and Group III at the Pertamina Sports Hall in Simprug, South Jakarta.

Group winners and runners-up will qualify for the finals, which are scheduled at the Bung Karno Basketball Hall.

Andi Zamzami, chairman of the organizing committee, said during a press conference on Wednesday that the competition would be aimed at scouting new talent for the national futsal team.--JP