The world soccer governing body, FIFA, has urged all member associations to constitute special standing committees for futsal, the five-a-side competition and beach soccer, Times of Zambia reported Friday.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has since set out to begin the process of constituting a standing committee for futsal, which is already being played on an artificial pitch in Lusaka with over 80 senior and 20 junior teams involved, according to the newspaper.

FAZ head of administration and competitions Julio Chiluba told the press in Lusaka on Thursday that FIFA has already set the ball rolling by organizing a seminar held recently in Maputo, Mozambique, to discuss the need for all member associations to embrace futsal and beach soccer.

He said, "it was stressed that both futsal and beach soccer were to be given equal opportunities of development alongside eleven-a-side football for both men and women."

Chiluba said that in order to step up the introduction of the two sports disciplines, FIFA has promised to donate futsal and beach soccer balls and other basic equipment to each participating member association.

Editor: Donald