"I'm not one to complain or see things as problems. I focus essentially on solutions. The biggest adversity we have is, structurally, at a financial level, because it is extremely important to make all our projects feasible, and without funds it is extremely difficult to achieve ", he said.
The coach guaranteed that, together with the Angolan Futsal Federation (Fafusa), it has been looking for solutions to face the financial difficulties.
"Together with the management of Fafusa, we looked for sponsors that would allow us to work true miracles. In a difficult time, we managed to do three internships, one in Luanda, one in Namibe and the last one in Huíla. Internships with very, very good conditions, provided by the local Provincial Governments, partners of excellence in this process of growth of Angolan futsal", he said.
Marcos Antunes stressed that Angolan futsal has evolved a lot in recent years and highlighted the interest that the modality arouses in the country and the quality of the players that already "crosses borders".
"If we compare it in terms of time, we can say that it is really better, more visible, more organized. But that is not enough. We are talking about a modality that fills outdoor spaces and pavilions. In the last National of 2022, in Namibe, every day we had four thousand people in the pavilion, watching games, both for women and men. People want to continue to grow the sport, but there is a lack of more dialogue, more synergies, more mutual help", he defended.
In view of the difficulties encountered, and with a view to helping to improve Angolan futsal, Marcos Antunes said that with the help of the federation, he has implemented several projects aimed at training and popularizing the sport in Angola.
"I am of the clear opinion that nobody does anything alone. And here, the management of Fafusa and its president have been true heroes. We created the Njozi Project, and we put it into practice on the ground, betting on the training levels. We offer balls, but above all we were present, bringing our idea and work methodology", explained the coach.
Marcos Antunes believes that with his book, entitled "De São Martinho de Mouros à Tundavala", which will soon be presented in Angolan territory, the federation will have one more instrument to develop Angolan futsal.
The Portuguese coach also expressed his desire to qualify the Angolan team for the African Championship and the World Cup, in 2024.
