Anna Iarmieva is the Ural Federal University women futsal team Administrator but she didn’t just bring the team with her. She also came to Braga with her two-year-old son, Elisey. Is she trying to “mold” a future futsal player from a young age? Find out more!

 

When did you arrive in Braga? Is it your first time in Portugal?

Anna: We arrived on Monday. It’s the first time we are here in Portugal. Actually, we had some problems because all the team's luggage got lost at the airport. But with the help of the Organising Committee we managed to get it all back.

 

How did it happen?

Anna: We had to catch three flights to arrive here plus a bus. We took the first flight in Ekaterinburg to Moscow, then to Lisbon and finally to Oporto. In Oporto we caught a bus to Braga. We waited in Lisbon for six hours but the luggage got lost in Moscow. It was finally located in Moscow but it was already really late so it couldn’t come in our plane. It took a lot of time!  

 

How did you manage to get the luggage back? Because I suppose you had some important things in there for the athletes, for example.

 

Anna: We didn’t get all the luggage back at the same time. It was little by little. First, we got some back on Monday, then on Tuesday and the last piece of luggage (the goalkeeper one) that had everything there (all the equipment) was just on game day, in the afternoon, so we had to go to a shop to buy new equipment. 

 

How has the competition been going for your team now? What are your expectations?

 

Anna: The championship is really good itself and the level is also high. We hope to win the gold medal because we have been putting a lot of effort into this. The games aren’t easy for us, though. In Russia we had to play against 100 teams so to get to this competition we had to win every game!

 

You brought someone special with you this time. Why so?

Anna: He’s only two years old so I had to bring him. Since I am the Delegation’s Administrator I had to come anyway and. thus, the kid. He’s the team’s talisman!

 

Is it the first time he’s accompaining you?

Anna: The first time he entered a football/futsal court he was only two-weeks-old but it’s his first time in a competition like this. 

 

Did you play futsal yourself?

Anna: No. I was a ballroom dancer for 15 years. I used to dance latin styles like samba and chachachá.

 

How is the kid enjoying being here?

Anna: He’s completely adapted now. He loves futsal and people so it’s a good experience for him too. 

 

How can you manage to take care of the team and your kid at the same time?

Anna: With a lot of work experience. It’s not easy but it’s really a pleasure for me!