Playarena, the biggest 6-a-side nationwide league in Poland, has just crossed another breakpoint. With 250 000 players involved, Playarena is approaching its long-term goal: getting half million of Poles out of their homes, right on the minifootball pitch.
The idea was very simple. Several friends, who moved to Wroclaw because of their studies, were eager to play football. It was not that easy to find other people to play with, therefore they created an internet platform, which would make things easier for them. That platform soon became a basis for a local amateur minifootball league, which quickly spread all over the country. Quickly indeed: with 2000 players involved in 2008, 8000 year after, and 40000 in 2010, after 10 years of its existence Playarena can boast with an outstanding number of 250 000 football freaks caught up in the project.
They compete with each other in two main tournaments: Nike Playarena League and FORTUNA Polish Cup. Firstly, teams have to prove themselves in local leagues (NPL) and local cups (FPL). Then, the best of the best compete in nationwide tournaments. Those tournaments’ winners (in 2015/2016 season: Cater-Group Lodz – Nike Playarena League, Gloria Victis Warszawa: FORTUNA Polish Cup) get a chance to play in prestigious EMF Champions League, and try their best fighting with other European teams.
At last, but not least, best players from NPL and FPL are the core of Polish National Minifootball Team, the 10th team of EMF’s ranking. Although they still cannot get through the quarterfinals, Polish fans certainly hope that they will break the spell in Czech Republic. Will their wishes will get fulfilled? We shall see in June…