Futsal emerges as an 'affordable alternative' for the Bangladeshi football lovers

Bangladesh is no stranger to the football frenzy, but here, where ambitions are met with barriers, Futsal is a beacon of hope. Futsal has been around for a while, but it first emerged in Bangladesh around late last decade, quickly winning the hearts of youth in and outside the capital.

Be it the accessibility or the cheap cost, Futsal is the timely alternative that football maniacs of Bangladesh need. Now more prevalent than ever, there might be more to this than meets the eye. Let’s get to know what the craze is all about.

Futsal – a football-based game – is quite similar to conventional football and follows the regular rules of the game except for a smaller team cap, essentially making it a scaled-down and simpler variant of its origin. 

Right off the bat, what makes Futsal stand out is its digestible nature, which makes it easy to grasp while still maintaining realism. For aspirants all around Bangladesh, this alone is a huge deal. However, granted, it has been more popular within the concrete jungle Dhaka than the outskirts.

Nevertheless, even though playing football how it was originally meant to be is generally easier outside the capital, all thanks to the plenty of space you get, Futsal still remains attractive everywhere to everyone, the main change-maker being the Futsal pitch. 

Due to a Futsal pitch being artificial and smaller in scale relative to a regular field, it’s convenient to construct sustainably and free of space limitations.

There are numerous Futsal courts in Bangladesh, the majority located in the capital. These Futsal courts tend to meet all the player requisites, starting from locker rooms to even providing referees in tournament settings. 

Additionally, due to the pitches supporting up to 7-a-side standard, hosting Futsal tournaments has now become easier than ever. 

Beyond being accessible, what really makes Futsal so popular is the cheap cost. Fees for 90-minute sessions on these Futsal courts range between Tk 2000 to 8000. This split amongst your entire team can be as little as Tk 200 per player, thus making it super affordable, especially for the youth.

Now, the appeal of Futsal in the context of Bangladesh is very apparent. Despite not having a team competing well internationally, Bangladesh has time and again proved its passion for football. 

During the World Cup last year, FIFA retweeted a clip of a football celebration in Bangladesh, and moreover, none other than AFA – Argentina’s governing body of football – expressed their appreciation towards Bangladeshis for their support. 

This all but proves Bangladeshis breathe football. Futsal came as an accessible alternative that fits right into a place like Bangladesh, a country that may not have the space for catering to football.

And through each of these vibrant green courts, dreamers who once went to sleep only to wake up in grim reality may just have started dreaming again.

Samin gets mad when anyone calls football soccer. You can argue with him at samin.shahan@gmail.com