Bruno Malias now in charge of Seychelles National Team

The Brazilian star has been chosen for his first coaching job and will lead the newly founded African beach soccer team

Brazil has long-since produced some of the best beach soccer players, teams, and coaches. Bruno Malias has already been a part of two; he now makes his transition to the coaching stage. Being great on the pitch was a signature of the Brazilian as he is a four-time FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Champion, in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The golden years of the Verde-Amarela also saw their star forward earn the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Top Scorer Bronze Ball (MVP) in 2006 and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Top Scorer Bronze Shoe (Top Scorer) in 2006 and 2007.

His first foray into coaching could not come at a better time as the island country of Seychelles has been playing soccer on the beach for as long as they can remember, but they are set to play in their first international beach soccer event from the 6^th-8^th of March. The tournament is the Power Horse Beach Soccer African Trophy Durban 2015, it will take place in South Africa, and it will include fierce competition against the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Senegal. The player turned coach very approrpriately said, “It’s a new challenge in my sporting career! I worked for 15 years as an athlete in Beach Soccer, and 10 years on the Brazilian national team. I’ve been busy building my portfolio off the pitch as well. I have developed many sports projects in Victoria, where I live in Brazil, I graduated with a degree in physical education and am currently completing a major in sports management! In this new chapter, I am proud and happy to follow this new path. I am confident and I expect a return in victories, due to much commitment, professionalism on and off the field!” The Seychellois beach soccer frenzy does not stop there as they will also be hosting the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 – CAF Qualifier Seychelles from April 14^th-19^th.

The Pirates will be a perfect team for Bruno to coach as they are very young, and he is still young enough himself to relate, while also being one of the most established and respected beach soccer veterans worldwide, thus demanding more respect than most. Not far removed from his string of championships, Malias is more than ready for the new challenge, but Bruno did note, “We still have a long way to go! The first step is to evaluate the athletes and the work structure, and then strategically plan our future! We have marked the Durban event as very important because we have a big first challenge against the hosts! For other tournaments, we will have more time to work together and that process is very important! We are going to find a way to do the absolute best that we can.” You can follow the teams’ progress pre and post-tournaments here at beachsoccer.com.