The Leekster Football Gala is back to life as usual. Unfortunately, futsal enthusiasts were deprived of this highly regarded futsal tournament for two years due to corona. This year, the Leekster Football Gala returns to the great joy of the many exuberant football fans. And how?
The hall of the Sports Center in Leek was packed on Thursday evening with all intensely sympathetic lovers and supporters of futsal. The people continuously cheered their favorites from groups K and L of the men’s tournament. The two highest ranked teams from both groups will move on to the final evening of the Leekster Football Gala on January 7. On Friday, eight teams will compete in two groups for four places in the final. On that final evening, eight teams will battle each other for the highest honour.
The organization, in the hands of chairman Marja Wardenier, is very pleased with the progress so far. The audience is visibly and audibly delighted that after two years of absence they can enjoy this futsal tournament again.
,,Every evening there is a great atmosphere”, Wardenier describes the state of mind inside and outside the lines. “People all know each other well. For example, they often do shopping in each other’s village. We did draw up a code of conduct a few years ago. However, so far everything is going smoothly despite many emotional moments.”
New winner
The women and the B category played until Thursday. CVV VEV ’67 and Winsum made it through to the women’s final on January 7 this week. Wardenier expects a lot from it. “It will definitely be a great fight. The last time Nieuw Roden won a number of times in a row. In the absence of this team, there will be a new winner.”
The visitors to the Sports Centre, who in the past welcomed various football celebrities such as Gerrie Mühren, Simon Tahamata, Ruud Krol, Arnold Mühren, René and Willy van de Kerkhof, Hugo Hovenkamp, Pier Tol and Edwin Grünholz, the world’s best futsal player at one time, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. of the often beautiful actions and goals of their favorites.
Who qualifies for finals night?
In the end, four teams had to emerge from the two groups. From group K, VEV ’67 got off to a flying start. FC Grootegast, which made a big impression in the first round, was beaten 3-0 without a chance and then Westerkwartier had to believe it 3-1. After two duels, VEV ’67 had already secured a place for the final evening. VEV ’67 also won 3-0 against Nieuw Roden. Westerkwartier benefited from this. It finished second thanks to a better doldrum balance than Nieuw Roden
In group L, Zuidhorn and HFC ’15 secured a place in the final round. After two duels, however, things could still go either way. Although Zuidhorn had won twice (6 points), Waskemeer and HFC ’15 had not yet been eliminated with one game to go. Both the impressively playing Zuidhorn, which became unthreatened group winner as a result, and HFC ’15 won their third game. HFC ’15, with several renowned futsal players in the team, came second in the group.
Preview
Group M and N will play on Friday. In group N, especially Roden is a real old acquaintance. This team has already won the tournament nine times. After 2010, however, other winners emerged. The last winner in 2019 was VEV ’67. According to Wardenier, it is difficult to predict which team will take the top prize in this edition.