Equality is the main characteristic of the First and Second National Futsal Federation. This is what he is demonstrating Peñíscola, leader of the second division, which will play the Final Four this Saturday against Jimbee Cartagena (12:00, Teledeporte). It wasn’t that long ago that the Castellón team was in the top flight, as they were promoted in the 2012/2013 season, descending in the 2020/2021 campaign. However, They have always expressed their desire to return to Primera, playing the playoffs last year. In this, will get direct promotion in the coming days, mathematically speaking. “That is our first goal, the one we set ourselves at the beginning of the season. Promotion to First Division, but direct”, confirms Pani, the team’s top scorer, in an interview with AS.
During the previous phases They have already met with First Federation teams, which they have beaten, such as Real Betis, Xota, or even the current champions and recently promoted to the category, UMA Antequera. “We believe that, even if it’s Barça, Jimbee or Palma, we can beat anyone. Your players have two legs and two arms like us, so we go there to death and with the illusion of winning the game ”, secure the wing.
The Final Four has been the result of the good work they are doing throughout the season. “In the end, it is a title, a competition that has been presented to us there. We have to know how to take advantage of it. If you compete well, you have good results. Not even in our best dreams did we think, in August, when we started the preseason, to be here. So, now that we have achieved it, we want to go for it”, declares the young man from Almería.
Peñíscola aspires to make history in its city. Although always fighting at the top of the table, and taking the three points this year in most matches played (only one draw and one loss), the players want to give their fans the chance to celebrate a title. A town of 8,000 inhabitants, of whom around 800 support the team in its victories and defeats. On most team trips, there are always fans who come to show support. For this weekend, in the chance they have to get a double this season (promotion and Copa del Rey), will be around 400 followers, from very diverse points of the international map, those who leave their breath in the Fernando Argüelles de Antequera, the home of the reigning champion, whom they eliminated in the quarterfinals.
And it is that, as if there were few signs that this team is at the level of the First Federation, economically It has a higher budget than some teams in this category.a (around €350,000). This makes it possible for recognized players in this discipline to be part of the squad. This is the case of close Aicardo. International for Spain, he played for Barça for almost a decade (until the 20/21 campaign). Later, he moved to Jaén, but it was in the winter market when the winger from Cádiz He decided to join the Valladares team to contribute his grain of sand in the pursuit of promotion, and who knows if a Copa del Rey.
His rival is fifth in the standings. They reached the quarterfinals in the Spanish Cup, before being eliminated in an exciting game until the last minute against ElPozo Murcia. In the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey they eliminated Movistar Inter. This Saturday they will fight to get into the final and be able to get what would be the first title for the team.
The second semifinal on Saturday will face two of the greats, barca and Palm Futsal (2:30 p.m., Teledeporte). The Catalans have led the table since the beginning of the season, while the Balearic team is their main pursuer along with Jaén. Velasco’s painting is the only one of the four that already has this trophy in their showcases. For his part, Those of Vadillo have managed to enter the Champions League Final Four that will be held next May, and this weekend they expect lift the first title of the season, in which they can get a triplet.
Whatever the result of this Saturday’s semifinals for the Copa del Rey, the only thing that is clear is that the emotion is going to live during the 40 minutes of the game, and that, once again, the maximum equality between players will be demonstrated. All of them can opt for large-scale titles.