Spectacular soccer skill show at futsal festival

AFESTIVAL of silky football skills is returning to Runcorn this summer with the Pannamania 2018 Street Soccer Championships.

Taking place on Saturday to Sunday, June 9-10, this year’s tournament is scheduled to feature more teams and age groups than ever before.

The championships feature three versus three games, smaller goals and courts and the use of street soccer and futsal balls.

Organiser Colin Powell, of Halton Street Soccer And Futsal (HSSF), said matches have no goalkeepers, no handballs, less physical contact, but more skills, shots and goals, all played in an atmosphere of music and fun.

This year is also introducing a one-on-one ‘panna’ competition, which is a game played in a small cage or circle with two sets of goals at either end and the aim of the game being to play the ball through the opponent’s legs in a ‘nutmeg’ to win.

Competitions are running for under-eights, under-10s, 12, 14, 16 and men’s open age.

Colin said HSSF is in the process of putting together its line-up of top street players from the UK and Europe, having working with Belgium-based Yassine Abderrahim, Alessandro Marchese, Croatian Rafael Spajic and homegrown UK players Kieran Beech and Sam Wright in the past.

Colin said these players perform all over the world with sponsors, professional clubs, high level competitions and have massive social media followings. Teams and players looking to take part should visit the Halton Street Soccer And Futsal CIC website and register online to secure a place.

Sponsorship opportunities for businesses are also available.