Futsal is the most widespread type of sports growing up culture for all Split generations. The beauty of play and the irresistible connection with football is the reason why it’s growing into the being of all the young and old souls in this city below Marjan Hill.
Throughout history, it is played on many surfaces - from the city’s beaches or the meadows of Dalmatian Zagora to the concrete squares and streets. The passion and defiance (characteristic of this region) of the sport created some sort of futsal religion on the grounds of Spalato. Despite all the gloomy changes in sport and society throughout the years, this sport evolved over the years in Split and became something bigger than futsal.
And, although it went through a little renaissance, the generation of current Splits students still didn’t cut short from the natural need for playing this characteristically free game on whatever surface, just searching for minimal requirements. All the moves, speed, technique, intrusiveness and stubbornness they naturally received from their older companions all the way from their youngest days, not even suspecting that the European University Championship of their beloved sport is coming to their peninsula.
The tournament this summer won’t be the first appearance of the Futsal team of the University of Split in high-ranking competitions. The ancestors of today's generation of university representatives built up the experience of playing in an elite futsal society over the years at national, European and World university championships and games. They returned from the second-ever European University Futsal Championship in Latina (IT) back in 2005 as runners-up, and some individuals even defended the colours of the Croatian University Futsal Team at the World University Futsal Championship in Kazakhstan in 2018. Many don't know that the Croatian amateur university club - AFC Universitas, whose players are the lifeblood of the Split’s team at the upcoming championship, also play in the 1st Croatian Futsal League.
As there are no secrets in futsal dribbling trickery, as the hosts of the European University Futsal Championship 2023, students of the University of Split are going to have a chance to show their skills from July 18th to 26th before colleagues and teammates from 17 countries and 27 universities.
To all children of Split, who choose to spend their time hitting a ball on the concrete of the city of Split, we say:
“Keep dreaming and believing in the potential that university futsal in Croatia has, because dreams come true, and those who believe stay.”