Futsal legend looks for future stars

SPANISH futsal star Roberto Tobe was in Ballarat last week searching for the next generation of the sport’s stars.

The talent identification trial was for the Futures program – the premier global youth training camp for individual player development.

Participants get to train, compete and live like a professional futsal player.

“The Futures program is the best experience of futsal in the world,” Tobe said.

Tobe spent time at Caja Segovia from 2004 to 2012 before he moved to Inter Movistar from 2012 to 2014 where won the Spanish National League and Copa de España in the 2013 to 2014 season.

He now captains Equatorial Guinea’s senior futsal team.

Director of Futsal Ballarat, Andrew Burgess, said the event was a great opportunity for local players to learn from Tobe.

“They get to actually play and show what they’ve got in front of one of the best players in the world, and he gets to look at what Australian talent is like,” Mr Burgess said.

“We know that regional kids, local kids don’t get the same opportunities that sometimes are often in metropolitan Melbourne, so bringing these superstars of the game out to regional Victoria, out to Ballarat, is an incredible opportunity.”

While in Australia, Tobe also visited Geelong, Melbourne, Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast.

The trip was made possible through a collaboration between United Futsal USA, Australian International Futsal Tours, Futsal Ballarat and Geelong Futsal.

“It’s a pleasure to have Tobe out here,” Mr Burgess said.

“Not only is he one of the world’s best players, he’s a fantastic person.”