Millikan graduate and USA Beach Soccer goalkeeper, Michael McAndrews, (son of the former CSULB academic advising legend Merry Eyeman) will be heading to Brazil for the May 2012 Mundialito de Clubes, an annual international competition that takes place between top international beach players. Mundialito, which is broadcast live to over 100 countries, is sponsored by some of the biggest giants of the Soccer panorama including Milan, Barcelona, Lokomotiv Moscow, as well as USA MLS team, Seattle Sounders. More than 25 international broadcasters in the five continents are onboard to shoot the Mundialito de Clubes in their territories, taking the spectacle to millions of households worldwide. Every single match, moreover, will be produced in High Definition, warranting all fans not to miss a single detail of such a thrilling competition.
After a May 5-6 tournament in Oceanside, a June 2-3 tournament in Long Beach, and then the June 8-10 Sand Soccer championships in Virginia Beach, Michael will travel to Switzerland to play in the Swiss professional Beach Soccer League through September 212. An estimated 300 youth beach soccer teams and eight professional teams will again compete in Oceanside. Last year, more than 30,000 people attended the soccer event, which also featured professional beach soccer teams from as far away as Japan and Portugal.
Now about the game…
Beach Soccer, which includes four field players plus a goalkeeper, is a faster, (and some would say) hotter version of one of the world’s most popular sports. A soft sand surface allows players to try diving headers, bicycle kicks, and exciting tricks more freely. Plays can be spectacular. The sand adds another dimension to the sport, putting aerobic strength, teamwork and individual skills to the test.
The ball is in the air most of the time, with quick flicks, juggling, and volleying all becoming increasingly important in order to stay away from an unpredictable surface. There are an average of sixty shots on goal, and eleven goals per game at the pro beach soccer level so it’s not surprising that it has been dubbed a “soccer highlight show” by the media. FIFA took over the organization of the Beach World Cup competition in 2005 and rebranded it as an official FIFA tournament. In all, 38 nations have played in at least one Beach World Cup. Most recent locations and champions include: Russia 2009 in Dubai; Brazil 2011 in Italy and the 2013 event is scheduled for Tahiti. Note to editor, shall I make travel arrangements?