Manchester Futsal Hosts Dutch Visitors for International Youth Experience.

Manchester continues to establish itself as a growing hub for international youth futsal development, as Manchester Futsal Youth Academy recently welcomed international visitors from the Netherlands for another memorable youth futsal experience.

Players from HOVO Futsal travelled to Manchester to take part in matches hosted at the iconic National Cycling Centre, giving Manchester Futsal Youth Academy players the opportunity to compete against opposition from a different futsal culture.

The visit formed part of Manchester Futsal’s wider vision: to connect Manchester with the international futsal community and ensure its players are consistently exposed to new challenges, styles, and learning environments.

A True International Learning Experience

Speaking after the games, Ilya Ovechkin, Academy Director, highlighted the importance of these moments for player development:

“It’s great to have different teams coming over to Manchester and providing new experiences for our players. It’s all about linking international teams to Manchester and making sure our players face different challenges that help them grow.”

For young players within the Manchester Futsal Youth Academy, these international fixtures go far beyond the scoreline. They offer a chance to test decision-making, technical quality, and personality against unfamiliar opponents - a key part of the club’s long-term development philosophy.

Testing Ourselves Against Other Nations

Head of Coaching Raducio King also reflected on the significance of the visit, particularly given the Dutch roots of the opposition:

“It’s great for our players to play against teams from other nations - especially from my home country, Holland. It allows us to see how our players express themselves against different opponents and deal with new challenges.”

Dutch futsal is renowned for its technical quality, game intelligence, and creativity, making HOVO Futsal ideal opposition for Manchester Futsal’s expressive, front-foot style of play.

Looking Ahead

This visit marks another step forward in Manchester Futsal’s ambition to make international exchange a regular part of its Youth Academy programme. With more overseas teams already in discussion, the club is committed to creating unique, high-level experiences that inspire young players and broaden their futsal education.

Manchester Futsal looks forward to welcoming more international teams to the city - and continuing to showcase Manchester as a home for elite youth futsal experiences.