Corinthians futsal coach on leading the team, hails the fans

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Central do Timão

·14 de noviembre de 2025

Corinthians futsal coach on leading the team, hails the fans

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the evening of last Tuesday (11), Corinthians qualified for the semifinals of the National League (LNF) by defeating Magnus 2-1 in overtime – after losing 5-3 in regular time, in Sorocaba. In the first match, at the Wlamir Marques Gymnasium, the Alvinegro had won 4-2.

After the match, coach Fernando Malafaia gave an interview to the press and was asked about the feeling of representing and leading a team like Corinthians. The coach also spoke about the importance of the fans, stating that the social club – Parque São Jorge – lives the sport.

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Photo: Agência Corinthians

“Corinthians is something inexplicable. I am very happy at Corinthians, not because of the results, but because I am learning every day at Corinthians. There at the headquarters, it breathes sport. By breathing sport, you have a huge offer of learning. I am like a guy who loves sports and likes to listen. I watch all the training sessions, of all the modalities. I like to be there, listening. And then, let's talk about the nation. It is literally a bunch of crazies. I tell my friends in Rio de Janeiro, I haven't seen anything like it. So, there are two very cool things.”

He then emphasized his gratitude for Corinthians and recalled the atmosphere found at Parque São Jorge in the 2016 National League semifinal, when he was leading Assoeva. That year, the Alvinegro won the national competition for the first time. Malafaia also stated that, despite the elimination, he was grateful for experiencing an environment like the one found at the Wlamir Marques Gymnasium that year.

“I can only thank Corinthians for what it is, for what it represents. You have to stand up and applaud. What we saw today, man, is impressive. And I hope the fans fill the stands and be there for the second game of the semifinal for that packed gym that I have already faced. In 2016 I lost there with Assoeva, we drew at home. I have never seen a gym like that. And on that occasion, I gave an interview like this, I thanked the Lord for giving me the opportunity to experience that. I lost the game, I didn't go to the final, and at the time I said in an interview that the champion would come out of the game between Corinthians and Assoeva”, he said.

Later, he analyzed the team's qualification in the national competition, praising the team's resilience throughout the classic. Fernando Malafaia also praised the match between Corinthians and Magnus as a way to value the 'futsal' product: “At the end of the first half of overtime, we scored the goal, started the second half, and conceded the goal. This is the moment when the athlete has to take this type of game, literally put it in his pocket, make an evaluation, a reflection on where he got it right and wrong, which is what we try to do. Sometimes we can't remove the athlete from some habits, but you keep pointing out, pointing out, pointing out, and you manage to make them give their all during the 50 minutes.”

“I am absolutely sure that it is an extraordinary game for a futsal enterprise. Because we reached this stage with a lot of conditions to be in the semifinal, with the opponent also for the whole campaign. But, we were better there and we were good here for at least 30 minutes of the 40. Then there was a disconnection, but the important thing is exactly what I said, you keep rewinding during the game, concentrating and seeking what they are capable of. They are skilled players,” he concluded.

Corinthians will return to the court for the National Futsal League on the next November 20, Thursday, to face Campo Mourão, at 2 p.m. (Brasília time), for the first leg of the national tournament semifinal.

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