Magri Overend enjoying futsal renaissance

Jonathan Magri Overend called time on his football career some years ago but his competitive streak and natural ability resurfaced when he began to play futsal.

Now aged 40, the former Malta defender, who is on the books of Paola Down Town, has revived his international career as his solid performances at club level prompted coach Vic Hermans to award him a call-up to the national futsal squad.

“I’m honoured to be representing Malta in futsal,” Magri Overend, who had spells with Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara and Ħamrun Spartans, told The Times as he prepared for Malta’s friendly matches against Norway.

“I started to play futsal four years ago. After my first few outings, I felt that I had what it takes to play at the highest level of local futsal.

“With more training, I got back to ideal fitness, relatively considering my age. I normally have two training sessions and a game every week but that’s sufficient to keep up my fitness levels because the body changes when you grow older.

“I got hooked on futsal. It’s different from football. There are so many different tactics.”

Magri Overend is convinced that futsal will continue to flourish over the next 10 years.

“It will take five to 10 years but if futsal continues to grow under the guidance of Hermans, I honestly believe that the national team’s results will be better in futsal than football,” Magri Overend, capped five times by Malta, said.

“Every year I’m seeing massive improvements in all aspects of the game. If there’s more flexibility in the MFA rules about the eligibility of football players to practise futsal and better facilities, I’m sure that the game will continue to grow.”