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MY BEACH SOCCER 
The Andalusian Spain goalkeeper will mark the region’s national day with a special training session.
After more than a decade with Spain’s national team, captain and goalkeeper Francisco Jesus Donaire, or Dona, is to put on a ‘Master de Porteros’ coaching course for those wishing to improve their skills between the sticks or merely learn more about the position.
The Almeria-born Spain skipper has been at the heart of his national side since 2006, featuring in elite-level competitions across the world and winning a host of titles with La Roja.
The session will take place on February 28th – Andalusia Day – between 10am and 2pm, with Dona keen to pass on his expertise and raise further interest in the sport within a country that already embraces beach soccer.
“I want to make known the sport that I have practice professionally for just over 10 years, when I started with the Spanish Beach Soccer Team,” he told Se Futbol.
“It is a spectacular sport and nothing engages people more than seeing it. In my view, being a goalkeeper in this sport is not like in other sports. We move from a secondary role to having, in most cases, one of the main roles, since we are at the core of the game.
“We can score goals, and play with the feet to serve as one extra player. But the most gratifying aspect, no doubt, is to save the team with our stops.”
While Spain will not feature at this year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, a busy European season awaits for Joaquin Alonso’s men and a well-attended inaugural event would act as the ideal tonic for the veteran stopper.
“I hope that there is good interest because it is the first one that has been done in Spain focused on beach soccer goalkeepers and where anyone can sign up without a limit on age,” he added.
“In Andalusia, we enjoy a good temperature all year, so even if it is February 28th you can stay in short sleeves and be barefoot – that is how you play and enjoy this beautiful sport.
“In the course, I will explain the main techniques goalkeepers uuse, both with the hands and the feet, since the sport has such diversity.
“In some cases, goalkeepers use the feet and the hands in equal measure to start the game, and we’ll explain how to deal with the uneven sand surface in the goalmouth when there are shots on goal.”
