National Futsal Premier League launches with 4 founding clubs
Image credit: National Futsal Premier League
A new amateur futsal league is coming to the Great Lakes area — and quite soon at that.
The National Futsal Premier League (NFPL) has officially launched with four founding members: the Ann Arbor Mudpuppies, Lansing City Futsal, ABK Futsal and FC Tryzub. The league will begin play in January 2019.
ABK Futsal is based in Grand Rapids and FC Tryzub in Chicago, giving the league three founding clubs from Michigan and one from Illinois. Anywhere from two to four more teams are expected to join the NFPL before it kicks off.
“We have been in discussions with several other markets and will either end up at six or eight teams for this inaugural season,” Mudpuppies co-owner and NFPL board member Bilal Saeed confirmed.
The league’s other board members include Drew Ducker, also a co-owner of the Mudpuppies, and Lansing City’s Jeremy Klepal. Ubusuku Abukusumo, a former Columbus Crew defender from 1997-99, will serve as the league’s first-ever commissioner.
Not wanting to overextend while also striving to keep travel costs reasonable, the NFPL plans to keep things regional, at least in the short-term.
“Sustainability is one of the league’s highest priorities,” Abukusumo said. “We believe the best opportunity to create an environment conducive to a sustainable league and its clubs is by starting the league with a regional, Midwest focus. … If, however, an opportunity arises to expand beyond our Midwest region that allows us to continue our vision and maintain sustainability, then we would look at it closely.”
The Ann Arbor Mudpuppies and ABK Futsal face off in a 2018 match. Photo credit: Ann Arbor Mudpuppies
As for the NFPL’s structure, beyond the aforementioned board of directors and commissioner, the league will operate as a tax-exempt entity with no centralized ownership.
“We are a nonprofit league that has a commissioner and a board, but no ownership,” Saeed explained.
For more information on the league or to inquire about launching an NFPL franchise, visit the league’s website — which is already live — at NationalFutsalPremierLeague.com.
“Futsal is a fantastic game that we believe will appeal to a majority of U.S. sports fans,” said Abukusumo. “We’re honored to be a part of its growth and we’re excited to showcase this highly entertaining product in the Midwest.”
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