Roubaix ready for another challenge
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Article summary
While the 2005/06 UEFA Futsal Cup winners are yet to be decided, uefa.com finds France's top team Roubaix Futsal already thinking about their return next season.
Article body
Rouxbaix Futsal will return to the UEFA Futsal Cup for the 2006/07 edition after claiming their third French title in a row.
Final glory
The northern club were 6-5 winners in Beauvais against Issy-les-Moulineaux Futsal in a repeat of the 2005 final. It means the club will again be France’s representatives in Europe’s premier club competition, having been involved in this year’s preliminary round. The 2005/06 UEFA Futsal Cup was the first time a team from France had entered the competition and it was a major step forward for French Futsal.
High hopes
In a four-team mini-tournament played in England, Roubaix failed to win any of their three matches against Tal Grig Yerevan of Armenia, hosts London White Bear FC and Dinamo Tirana of Albania but expect better things next time around. "Last year we were only discovering the UEFA Futsal Cup, now we expect to improve,” said coach Nordine Benmarouche.
Top team
Only formed in 2002, Roubaix were regional champions of the north within two years and quickly became the nation's top team. However, they were always rated as outsiders in the London mini-tournament last September, but hinted at a major shock when David Vieira gave them a seventh-minute lead against favourites Yerevan in their first match. However, the Armenian champions eventually won 7-2, and London defeated Roubaix 6-0. All but out, Roubaix then faced Tirana and lost 5-1.
