By CHRISTINA CEPERO
CCEPERO@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on May 25, 2005

• Above: A player from the Chivas team kicks the ball toward the goal during a game against the Real Madrid team at the Bonita Springs Rec Center futsal field. • Top: Chivas player Leiny Meza, left, and Real Madrid player Abelino Delgad chase the ball during a recent game. MARC BEAUDIN/The News-Press

You don't need much to play futsal, or indoor soccer. Just a soccer ball, a couple of goals and a place to play.

A league in Bonita Springs doesn't even play indoors. The 200 men play on a concrete hockey court at the Bonita Springs Recreation Center. And it works out fine.

Except for one thing: a cover to guard against rain and heat.

So now, the group is working with the city to try to put a metal roof over the court.

Juan Romero, one of the league's founders, said the league aims to raise $20,000 — about 10 percent of the cost for a roof — throughout the year to persuade the city to build one.

"That certainly is a good start if they can do that," said Mayor Jay Arend. "The effort I think is what is appreciated."

The futsal players have many fundraising ideas: raffling a television set among themselves, having local businesses sponsor them by placing signs around the court, organizing soccer tournaments and holding a festival.

"The problem is when the rainy season comes," Romero said.

Some of the 20 team-league's summer games get postponed because of rain, causing rescheduling hassles.

The players began using the 120-foot-by-60-foot court two years ago because of the lack of soccer fields in Bonita. A regulation soccer field is at least 300 feet long and 150 feet wide.

All of the players come from Latin America, and they play five-against-five in the league, instead of the normal 11 vs. 11.

Juan Lucio is one of the league's original players. His 3-year-old son, Daniel, comes to all his games.

"He always comes to cheer me on," Lucio said.

A roof would shield the players and spectators from the afternoon sun, allowing games to start earlier in the day.

They currently play from 8 p.m. until after 11 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They start at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.