Mixed loyalties for Oleksandr

It’s going to be a busy weekend for football-mad Oleksandr Saliy, who will not only be overseeing the Futsal Super League on Sunday but will also be refereeing Saturday’s FA Cup Third Qualifying Round between Eastleigh and Basingstoke before trying to watch his native Ukraine take on England in a World Cup Qualifier in the evening.

Since moving to England ten years ago, ‘Alex’ has become a major figure in the development of Futsal in this country as well as becoming a qualified referee.

He founded White Bear Futsal Club, a team set up in Hackney back in 2003 alongside other social activities that he was organising for people from the Russian-speaking minorities of former USSR countries such as Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Estonia who were living in England.

This weekend will see a collection of activities taking place at the SCORE sports and community facility in Leyton which is the only FA approved Futsal court in London. As well as the Super League, now in its seventh year and with an adult and youth league, there will also be a Russian Community Day taking place at the venue in London's east end.

With White Bear having been one of the most successful Futsal teams based in England, Alex is now looking to help develop more homegrown Futsal players with the competition.

“My aim is to bring more English players through as well as develop a youth league,” he said.

“Futsal in England is just at the development stage but I think there are lots of skilful English players. What we need to do is point these guys in the right direction.

“We tend to recruit a lot of players from the Power League and Goals five-a-side leagues and sometimes even off the street!

“We explain to them how the pathway to the English National Futsal Team works – we have had players picked from the league represent England before and there is no reason why this can’t happen again.”

As for Saturday’s game in Dnipro between Ukraine and England, Alex admits he will have mixed loyalties as to who he supports.

“I feel immense pride in my work here in England and love the country,” he added.

“I even supported England when I was younger and used to love watching Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne.

“Our children were born here and I have lived here so long that I am at least half English! This country taught me how if you want to reach something in your life then you can be strong and gain it.”