Pele never played Futsal by Carlos Mateus

Pele  picture by Canadian  Mike Teus Mateus

Fifa History of the great one

Just to keep you well informed in futsal; Pelé never played organized futsal,  he was raised in a small town,  his father was a local soccer hero in that community.

Pele played outdoors soccer in his home town youth soccer games. The real futsal player making his way in soccer is the 18 year old Alexandre Pato, now playing in  Milan Italy, beside Kaka, who was also from the brazilian grassroots futsal.
Pato played Futsal from 6 years old till 15. and was spotted by a soccer scout, at 16 he turned professional soccer player. Playing for the International Soccer club, of the Brazilian premier league, He scored a goal in the World Club Championships , in Japan , against Barcelona of Spain, Pato put on a good show before winning the 2006 world club championships.


Pato only played 16 month of professional soccer, and is in his way to be Fifa player of the year.


In Brazil youth players are developed in futsal, to make a change to soccer is an option. The majority stay playing futsal. According to experts , the age to change from futsal to soccer is between 12 to 16 years old. Most of the professional soccer teams have futsal program, and those who are spotted as potential soccer players, are put on in a soccer boarding school program, with everything paid, including; house and wages for the parents.
It is a system that works down here, just like youth hockey in Canada, parenting are behind to get in the money with their children. Robinho, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Pato, never played organized youth soccer, just futsal. all of them were put in a soccer program by their adopted clubs.

Falcao, know as the best futsal player in the world, try to play on grass, but did not succeed , he was 26 years old, now he is getting better pay in futsal.

If you could convince the Canadian Soccer Association to have the Canadian children play futsal until they are 12 years old before change to play soccer. believe me , you would make history in Canadian Soccer, as well as we would see Canadian score more goals.

In 1985 , Nanaimo, Canada, at the Nanaimo Parks, and Culture, children futsal grassroots program . Coaches:  Leo Beiers, Ike Mackay , Les Malbon  and Carlos Mateus

daughter Michele Mateus (standing left)  and son Mike Mateus ( front row left ),

Ike Mackay P.E. UVC , master in soccer University of Alberta,  former Canadian Soccer National and Olympic Team player, as well as  at the National American Soccer league, Ike was playing  his veteran days for the Victoria West Soccer Club, three times Canadian Amateur Champions of the premier soccer league in Canada.
 I met Ike at the Woodlands Junior High. From that we started a youth futsal program - Gary Smith, Andy Scott, Paul Batman, Danny Multari, Darcy Bolton, Patrick Rhode,  farmed the best crop o youth futsal players, harvested in Canada in the early 80´s.