Futsal in Silicon Valley

Orignal Article in Spanish: ​http://sextoanillo.com/index.php/2018/01/05/futbol-sala-silicon-valley/

​Futsal in Silicon Valley. Few would put together two different concepts in the same sentence. In the first place, a minority sport, to say nothing of the other side of the pond. On the other hand, the largest technological cluster in the world. A nerdy place where it is easier for people to play quidditch than any other sport. However, thanks to the efforts of a small academy, futsal is increasingly known in the home of Google, Oracle and many other companies.

Futsal Without Borders is the most ambitious football academy in North America. The great work of Diana Gundvedt. A passionate about futsal that gets more followers every day for our sport. Organizing tournaments, inviting coaches to their campuses, traveling to meet other sports cultures ... Few have made as many efforts as she to promote futsal. In fact, there are several years in which Diana visits our country at Christmas to enjoy futsal. The objective: that their kids learn as much as possible and, above all, take advantage of a unique experience.

This year Futsal Without Borders has not missed his appointment either. They arrived in Barcelona on Christmas Day with a suitcase full of enthusiasm to visit the city, play all possible games and visit the Barcelona and Catgas facilities. His next stop was in Madrid where these days played several games in Móstoles or Rivas in addition to knowing the Santiago Bernabéu. Finally, they will travel to Italy where they will visit Rome and Venice. All without great sponsors, staying in hostels and moving from party to party on public transport.

Not even the precarious state of futsal in the United States discourages Diana and her family. No more tournaments in your country than marathons and a state to which you can sign any team that wants to dispute it. Without professional teams and totally amateur, futsal there is considered a sport for lower classes. Especially the male, reserved for Latinos and Mexicans. Due to this bad image and the lack of professionalism, the few who enjoy futsal have to abandon it. However, the skills learned allow them to move to football, a sport that is boring for them but that provides scholarships at the university level. The salvation for many kids who could not otherwise pay for their studies.

That's why Futsal Without Borders has so much merit. They are the oasis in a desert that will soon blossom. Diana's dream is that her country qualifies for a World Cup and one of her kids can play it representing the stars and stripes. Without being ashamed that his sport is futsal. And for that, mine too.

You can meet the guys from Futsal Without Borders and collaborate with them on their website http://www.futsalwithoutborders.org/ and on their Facebook https://es-la.facebook.com/FutsalWithoutBorders/