Footvolley In Malaysia Has Growth Potential

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Mention footvolley and the uninitiated may wonder what it is although it has been growing in popularity in Asia since 2005. The sport which was introduced to the world by Octavio de Moraes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1965 combines football and sepak takraw techniques, with rules that are almost similar to beach volleyball. In footvolley, one is only permitted to use their head, shoulders, chest, thigh, knee and feet -- but no hands -- to get the ball over the net. The game has two players per side, 18 points per set and a best of three scoring systems. Although the sport is considered new here, Malaysians Mohd Danial Rosley, 29, and Mohd Fakhrizul Mhd Fuzi, 30, fared well by winning fourth place at the World Footvolley Championships 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand recently. Malaysian Footvolley Association (FvAM) president, Kevin Lim Cho Hwa, said: “Footvolley has caught on in over 40 countries, with interest increasing in Malaysia. The recreational sport is suitable for all. "It is impossible this sport won’t capture the attention of local football, sepak takraw or beach volleyball fans if it is widely promoted,” he told Bernama. Lim, who is also the Asian Footvolley Federation (AFF) vice president, said Malaysia has played a big role in introducing footvolley to Asia. "Our contribution has been recognised by other countries, especially Brazil, who can see the potential in Malaysian players," he said. So far, Malaysia has produced 12 footvolley players -- six senior players and six junior players -- who are participating in several international competitions. They have already competed in the European International Invitational Footvolley Championships in France and the Fifth Asian Footvolley Championship in Thailand. "Footvolley was an event at the fourth and 2014 Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand where Malaysia won bronze," he added. In the same year, Malaysia held an International Invitational Footvolley Championships in Langkawi, Kedah, he said. Lim said FvAM will step up its search for new talent while developing and growing the sport. Some programmes to find new talent have been initiated, including demonstrations and from time to time, training and selection sessions. He said AFF is working on getting footvolley included in the Asian Beach Games, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Asian Games, adding: "In fact, AFF hopes it will be included in the Olympics someday." -- BERNAMA