Senda News
Senda Spotlight: Rose City Futsal
Rose City Futsal has two of the best futsal facilities in North America, and it has been working to build the futsal community from the ground up since 2013. Senda is very proud to announce that Rose City Futsal (RCF) has selected Senda as their official ball provider, after testing every type and brand of ball available in the market. Players at their West and East locations will be playing with Rio balls size #2 and 3, as well as Vitoria balls for size #4 (regulation size for adults). “Rose City Futsal has built two world-class facilities to serve Oregon’s Futsal community, and they are an international reference for all of us who are working tirelessly to grow the game and popularity of the game we love, so it is very special that they have chosen Senda as their provider” said Santiago Halty, founder of Senda Athletics. Adult players of all ages and levels can play pick-up or league games at RCF. RCF’s two futsal facilities have been attracting diverse players of all ages and levels, from Portland Thorns FC and Portland Timbers professional soccer players, to young players looking to elevate their game. Regardless of their background, all of these players seek improvement and more touches on the ball, which is exactly what futsal offers. Youth players training with the Rio Futsal balls at RCF. Rose City Futsal offers a full Youth Academy, adult pick-up games and leagues, and educational opportunities for coaches who want to learn from the best minds of futsal in the world. Two of the best minds in futsal have conducted clinics at RCF: Andres Sanz, Head Coach of Atletico Madrid Womens Futsal, and Diego Giustozzi, 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup-winning coach with Argentina. The RCF Youth Academy program allows a diverse group of players to develop their skills, make new friends, and feel more interconnected within the community of Portland futsal and soccer fans. One of their exemplary coaches is Kody Ganiko, who has over seven years of coaching experience, focusing on ages 4-18. Kody also has U.S. National F, E, and D licenses and firmly believes that futsal challenges players to be creative, confident, intelligent and technical. “I am extremely excited for the growth of Futsal in the States, especially in the midst of the Portland Futsal community,” said Kody. “I am also excited to have all our players training and playing with Senda futsal ball due to their quality, specialized size and weight, as well as their Fair Trade Certification,” added Kody. Fair Trade means better livelihoods, no child labor, and improved working conditions for Senda’s ball makers. Coach Kody talking to young players at Rose City Futsal. The first Rose City Futsal was started in 2013 by ten soccer families in Portland, Oregon who believed in “el corazón del juego”, or The Heart of the Game. Aside from offering futsal programs, RCF offers training sessions, physical therapy, and a pub for people to enjoy at the end of a long day. RCF has year-round adult leagues, with seven to ten-week schedules at both the West and East Portland locations. These programs are open to males and females, beginners and superstars, and adults of all ages. There is also the opportunity to participate in futsal open play matches and classes from reputable coaches. In addition, Rose City’s youth leagues have an emphasis on growing the player and the individual. Coach Kody and everyone at Rose City believe that their futsal initiatives can teach players the values of dedication and discipline both on and off the field. Aside from offering a wide variety of camps, leagues, and classes, RCF also offers their Futsal Development Program (FDP) and Select Team development program designed to develop the best soccer and futsal players in the country. These programs match youth players with others that are similar in talent and ability, allowing them to grow and reach their full potential. Coach Kody with the Vitoria futsal ball (red) and Rio futsal ball (green) used at RCF. It’s incredible to see world-class facilities like these ones from Rose City Futsal. Coach Kody and the rest of the staff have created opportunities of the Portland futsal and soccer communities to enjoy the benefits of a faster and more technical form of the beautiful game. Senda is proud to be the official ball partner of Rose City Futsal, and we were honored to see them present our product and story with their custom-made display below. Stay tuned for more announcements from RCF and Senda in the coming months!
Senda Spotlight: Rose City Futsal
Rose City Futsal has two of the best futsal facilities in North America, and it has been working to build the futsal community from the ground up since 2013. Senda is very proud to announce that Rose City Futsal (RCF) has selected Senda as their official ball provider, after testing every type and brand of ball available in the market. Players at their West and East locations will be playing with Rio balls size #2 and 3, as well as Vitoria balls for size #4 (regulation size for adults). “Rose City Futsal has built two world-class facilities to serve Oregon’s Futsal community, and they are an international reference for all of us who are working tirelessly to grow the game and popularity of the game we love, so it is very special that they have chosen Senda as their provider” said Santiago Halty, founder of Senda Athletics. Adult players of all ages and levels can play pick-up or league games at RCF. RCF’s two futsal facilities have been attracting diverse players of all ages and levels, from Portland Thorns FC and Portland Timbers professional soccer players, to young players looking to elevate their game. Regardless of their background, all of these players seek improvement and more touches on the ball, which is exactly what futsal offers. Youth players training with the Rio Futsal balls at RCF. Rose City Futsal offers a full Youth Academy, adult pick-up games and leagues, and educational opportunities for coaches who want to learn from the best minds of futsal in the world. Two of the best minds in futsal have conducted clinics at RCF: Andres Sanz, Head Coach of Atletico Madrid Womens Futsal, and Diego Giustozzi, 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup-winning coach with Argentina. The RCF Youth Academy program allows a diverse group of players to develop their skills, make new friends, and feel more interconnected within the community of Portland futsal and soccer fans. One of their exemplary coaches is Kody Ganiko, who has over seven years of coaching experience, focusing on ages 4-18. Kody also has U.S. National F, E, and D licenses and firmly believes that futsal challenges players to be creative, confident, intelligent and technical. “I am extremely excited for the growth of Futsal in the States, especially in the midst of the Portland Futsal community,” said Kody. “I am also excited to have all our players training and playing with Senda futsal ball due to their quality, specialized size and weight, as well as their Fair Trade Certification,” added Kody. Fair Trade means better livelihoods, no child labor, and improved working conditions for Senda’s ball makers. Coach Kody talking to young players at Rose City Futsal. The first Rose City Futsal was started in 2013 by ten soccer families in Portland, Oregon who believed in “el corazón del juego”, or The Heart of the Game. Aside from offering futsal programs, RCF offers training sessions, physical therapy, and a pub for people to enjoy at the end of a long day. RCF has year-round adult leagues, with seven to ten-week schedules at both the West and East Portland locations. These programs are open to males and females, beginners and superstars, and adults of all ages. There is also the opportunity to participate in futsal open play matches and classes from reputable coaches. In addition, Rose City’s youth leagues have an emphasis on growing the player and the individual. Coach Kody and everyone at Rose City believe that their futsal initiatives can teach players the values of dedication and discipline both on and off the field. Aside from offering a wide variety of camps, leagues, and classes, RCF also offers their Futsal Development Program (FDP) and Select Team development program designed to develop the best soccer and futsal players in the country. These programs match youth players with others that are similar in talent and ability, allowing them to grow and reach their full potential. Coach Kody with the Vitoria futsal ball (red) and Rio futsal ball (green) used at RCF. It’s incredible to see world-class facilities like these ones from Rose City Futsal. Coach Kody and the rest of the staff have created opportunities of the Portland futsal and soccer communities to enjoy the benefits of a faster and more technical form of the beautiful game. Senda is proud to be the official ball partner of Rose City Futsal, and we were honored to see them present our product and story with their custom-made display below. Stay tuned for more announcements from RCF and Senda in the coming months!
Senda Spotlight: Kimberley Futsal Club in Argentina
Club Atletico Kimberley is an Argentine futsal club that is located in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. Kimberley has been known as a futsal organization that holds both men's and women's futsal tournaments. Senda spoke with Kimberley Futsal Club regarding their legacy and impact on the futsal community in Argentina. Senda sat down with Gustavo Villegas, a futsal coordinator at Kimberley Futsal Club. When asked about the club's legacy of how it managed to exist for over 100 years, Villegas had this to say, "The sole reason is the sentiment and passion that the members provided over the years, from its founder, Julio Pianaroli, with a small group of people in 1906, to its current status. The key was always the love and commitment towards the club and fundamentally towards those kids in different stages". Regarding the club's mission statement, Villegas responded emphatically, "Our mission is to provide a place of belonging, develop values, and form people outside the sport". Gustavo also spoke about his specific role at the club as a futsal trainer, and how his instruction affects the development of youth futsal players, "I am the General Sports Coordinator and I work with other coordinators and faculty in every area within futsal. The impact we have always looked for is developing an identity and a sense of belonging towards the club in every athlete that works day to day. We work with every boy and girl in our academy to get them to that next step". With respect to the personal impact that Kimberley Futsal has had on his personal life and what he has noticed that has changed over time within the club, Villegas remarked, "My best memories are the club forming me into an athlete and person. The club is my second home to this day. Thirty years ago, only the most stand-out players would play and it was a much more selective club. Today, we have an inclusive and integrated club that provides a genuine place for many children to get involved". Women's futsal at Kimberley Futsal club has been a recent development that started in 2012. When talking about diversity and inclusion in futsal, Villegas commented about the importance of women in futsal, "Women's futsal in our club has been a dream that we have always had ever since we learned about Micaela and Delfina from Babi Futbol, two talented futsalistas who played at the same level as any male. They incentivized us to start women's futsal at our club. It paid off in 2014 when we won the Copa America in Chile for women's futsal". When discussing further about the prospect of "Babi Futbol" in Argentina, Villegas explained, "Babi Futbol is historical in Argentina, as all players that stood out and stand out in Argentinian soccer passed through a Babi club". He also talked about certain famous futbol players that utilized futbol skills to help them at the professional level of play, "Fernando Gago and Andres Iniesta, for example, in their passes, control, and understanding of the game. I can cite numerous Brazilian players, as they all went through futsal when they were young, like Neymar". Finally, Senda wanted to know what Gustavo thought were the most important qualities of a good coach. He gave his opinion, "Discipline in your work, credibility, convincing without imposing, managing a group, managing adverse situations, listening and understanding players, all without compromising your principles". Senda would like to thank Kimberley Futsal Club for helping drive the message of diversity and inclusion within the futsal community, and for being one of the first clubs to start using our Fair Trade futsal balls in Argentina.
Senda Spotlight: Kimberley Futsal Club in Argentina
Club Atletico Kimberley is an Argentine futsal club that is located in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. Kimberley has been known as a futsal organization that holds both men's and women's futsal tournaments. Senda spoke with Kimberley Futsal Club regarding their legacy and impact on the futsal community in Argentina. Senda sat down with Gustavo Villegas, a futsal coordinator at Kimberley Futsal Club. When asked about the club's legacy of how it managed to exist for over 100 years, Villegas had this to say, "The sole reason is the sentiment and passion that the members provided over the years, from its founder, Julio Pianaroli, with a small group of people in 1906, to its current status. The key was always the love and commitment towards the club and fundamentally towards those kids in different stages". Regarding the club's mission statement, Villegas responded emphatically, "Our mission is to provide a place of belonging, develop values, and form people outside the sport". Gustavo also spoke about his specific role at the club as a futsal trainer, and how his instruction affects the development of youth futsal players, "I am the General Sports Coordinator and I work with other coordinators and faculty in every area within futsal. The impact we have always looked for is developing an identity and a sense of belonging towards the club in every athlete that works day to day. We work with every boy and girl in our academy to get them to that next step". With respect to the personal impact that Kimberley Futsal has had on his personal life and what he has noticed that has changed over time within the club, Villegas remarked, "My best memories are the club forming me into an athlete and person. The club is my second home to this day. Thirty years ago, only the most stand-out players would play and it was a much more selective club. Today, we have an inclusive and integrated club that provides a genuine place for many children to get involved". Women's futsal at Kimberley Futsal club has been a recent development that started in 2012. When talking about diversity and inclusion in futsal, Villegas commented about the importance of women in futsal, "Women's futsal in our club has been a dream that we have always had ever since we learned about Micaela and Delfina from Babi Futbol, two talented futsalistas who played at the same level as any male. They incentivized us to start women's futsal at our club. It paid off in 2014 when we won the Copa America in Chile for women's futsal". When discussing further about the prospect of "Babi Futbol" in Argentina, Villegas explained, "Babi Futbol is historical in Argentina, as all players that stood out and stand out in Argentinian soccer passed through a Babi club". He also talked about certain famous futbol players that utilized futbol skills to help them at the professional level of play, "Fernando Gago and Andres Iniesta, for example, in their passes, control, and understanding of the game. I can cite numerous Brazilian players, as they all went through futsal when they were young, like Neymar". Finally, Senda wanted to know what Gustavo thought were the most important qualities of a good coach. He gave his opinion, "Discipline in your work, credibility, convincing without imposing, managing a group, managing adverse situations, listening and understanding players, all without compromising your principles". Senda would like to thank Kimberley Futsal Club for helping drive the message of diversity and inclusion within the futsal community, and for being one of the first clubs to start using our Fair Trade futsal balls in Argentina.
Senda Spotlight: Joga Bonito Futsal Academy
At Senda Athletics, it is our priority to locate the best youth futsal organizations across the country as our partners. One of these organizations that we are proud to be affiliated with is Joga Bonito Futsal Academy, a youth futsal organization based in South Florida. This youth futsal academy is revolutionizing the way that youth futsal players are strengthening their skills whether through futsal camps that are held throughout the year, experienced coaches that are licensed by the US Soccer Federation, and youth futsal programs that are held in cities such as Boca Raton and Miami. Last week, Senda Athletics was given the opportunity to interview Guga Alencar, a former Brazilian futsal professional, NCAA Division 1 Player, and current head coach of JB Futsal Academy. While some professional athletes relish on their achievements and become apathetic about improving, Guga could not be further on the opposite end of the spectrum. When asked about why he coaches youth futsal Coach Guga explains, “I really believe in the importance of it for the development of players. It helped me tremendously when I was young and just starting to play. It helped me, among many things, with my confidence as a player.” These sentiments echo many soccer players in America who make the transition from youth futsal to soccer in later stages of their lives. At Senda, we have a specific goal in mind: to pursue social change through our work as a social enterprise. We disrupt the youth futsal industry by offering the best-in-class futsal products while simultaneously embracing Fair Trade regulations. Coach Guga’s philosophy towards his youth futsal academy has an equally important objective. “At Joga Bonito Futsal Academy, we are a player-centered academy. We believe that players should be able to find solutions of their own. We give them the tools and scenarios; we ask them to find the solutions.” Making a concerted effort to improve the skills of youth futsal is a top priority for the Joga Bonito Futsal Academy. As Coach Guga relates, “I always want the best for my players. In almost 17 years of developing youth futsal players in the US, I always thought that there was a missing ‘agent’ or ‘part’ in this process.” Furthermore, the coach describes the emotional aspect of improving youth futsal players’ abilities, “The passion for working with players and helping them get better is what motivates me. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the happiness on the players’ faces when they achieve their goals.” Coach Guga expands upon why he chose to partner with Senda Athletics as the company to provide youth futsal balls for his academy. His response is nothing short of heartwarming for Senda, which emphasizes making a real difference in the lives of youth futsal players, “I choose Senda balls because their story is similar to ours. We are a family owned and operated academy with love and care for this sport and those who are involved in it. Senda and Joga Bonito hold the same beliefs and I am super happy with the quality of the product we are getting.” Finally, Guga details his hopes for the growth of youth futsal in the near future, “I hope youth futsal grows as a sport in the US. I hope futsal can be mandatory in every soccer club. I hope it can be part of the school’s system, like we are doing for a few schools during their physical education time.” Senda Athletics could not agree more.
Senda Spotlight: Joga Bonito Futsal Academy
At Senda Athletics, it is our priority to locate the best youth futsal organizations across the country as our partners. One of these organizations that we are proud to be affiliated with is Joga Bonito Futsal Academy, a youth futsal organization based in South Florida. This youth futsal academy is revolutionizing the way that youth futsal players are strengthening their skills whether through futsal camps that are held throughout the year, experienced coaches that are licensed by the US Soccer Federation, and youth futsal programs that are held in cities such as Boca Raton and Miami. Last week, Senda Athletics was given the opportunity to interview Guga Alencar, a former Brazilian futsal professional, NCAA Division 1 Player, and current head coach of JB Futsal Academy. While some professional athletes relish on their achievements and become apathetic about improving, Guga could not be further on the opposite end of the spectrum. When asked about why he coaches youth futsal Coach Guga explains, “I really believe in the importance of it for the development of players. It helped me tremendously when I was young and just starting to play. It helped me, among many things, with my confidence as a player.” These sentiments echo many soccer players in America who make the transition from youth futsal to soccer in later stages of their lives. At Senda, we have a specific goal in mind: to pursue social change through our work as a social enterprise. We disrupt the youth futsal industry by offering the best-in-class futsal products while simultaneously embracing Fair Trade regulations. Coach Guga’s philosophy towards his youth futsal academy has an equally important objective. “At Joga Bonito Futsal Academy, we are a player-centered academy. We believe that players should be able to find solutions of their own. We give them the tools and scenarios; we ask them to find the solutions.” Making a concerted effort to improve the skills of youth futsal is a top priority for the Joga Bonito Futsal Academy. As Coach Guga relates, “I always want the best for my players. In almost 17 years of developing youth futsal players in the US, I always thought that there was a missing ‘agent’ or ‘part’ in this process.” Furthermore, the coach describes the emotional aspect of improving youth futsal players’ abilities, “The passion for working with players and helping them get better is what motivates me. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the happiness on the players’ faces when they achieve their goals.” Coach Guga expands upon why he chose to partner with Senda Athletics as the company to provide youth futsal balls for his academy. His response is nothing short of heartwarming for Senda, which emphasizes making a real difference in the lives of youth futsal players, “I choose Senda balls because their story is similar to ours. We are a family owned and operated academy with love and care for this sport and those who are involved in it. Senda and Joga Bonito hold the same beliefs and I am super happy with the quality of the product we are getting.” Finally, Guga details his hopes for the growth of youth futsal in the near future, “I hope youth futsal grows as a sport in the US. I hope futsal can be mandatory in every soccer club. I hope it can be part of the school’s system, like we are doing for a few schools during their physical education time.” Senda Athletics could not agree more.
Senda Spotlight: Golden Boot Academy
Senda Athletics has teamed up with Golden Boot Academy to strengthen the reach of futsal in our community and help them launch their futsal training program. Golden Boot academy works with athletes of all ages to develop their skills with both soccer and futsal training. Golden Boot Academy is led by coaches Nigus Solomon and Yohannes Harris. This coaching duo has backgrounds ranging from professional soccer overseas to playing for respected universities in California such as San Francisco State University and Holy Names University. At Golden Boot Academy, they are focused on providing a soccer and futsal training platform that is both top level and affordable. With a lack of soccer and futsal resources in the East Bay, Golden Boot Academy works with athletes and their families to help them grow and become successful. When asked why this coaching duo started Golden Boot Academy they said, "With a good support system and some hard work, we believe anyone can achieve what they put their mind to." At Senda Athletics, we want to recover the unifying power of soccer and futsal, while changing lives along the way. Coaches Nigus and Yohannes have the same philosophy when it comes to this beautiful game. "First and foremost, we want to create positive individuals that are active and supportive members of society. We want not only to help our clients become better athletes or soccer players but better people in general, people with good morals and values." Understanding that there is a rapid and quick growth of futsal in the United States, Golden Boot Academy offers futsal training to help their athletes gain an advantage in the sports. Futsal training helps players compete at a faster pace, which requires athletes to make quicker decisions within tighter spaces. It also requires athletes to think and play more creatively, increasing both their control and handle overall. This is why Golden Boot Academy offers futsal training to complement the skill set for 11 v 11 soccer. When asked why Golden Boot Academy has teamed up with Senda Athletics, they responded with: "First Reason is after doing our research on them we found out that they are a Fair Trade company who believe in giving back to the communities and helping others live better lives, which is something we value as well. The second thing is we wanted to work with a community company who believes in same ideologies as we do. We also love the balls a lot we have got nothing but the best feedback from our clients about the balls, they love them as much as we do." With a strong belief that both soccer and futsal help build a better community and bring happiness, it easy to see why Golden Boot Academy and Senda Athletics have teamed up.
Senda Spotlight: Golden Boot Academy
Senda Athletics has teamed up with Golden Boot Academy to strengthen the reach of futsal in our community and help them launch their futsal training program. Golden Boot academy works with athletes of all ages to develop their skills with both soccer and futsal training. Golden Boot Academy is led by coaches Nigus Solomon and Yohannes Harris. This coaching duo has backgrounds ranging from professional soccer overseas to playing for respected universities in California such as San Francisco State University and Holy Names University. At Golden Boot Academy, they are focused on providing a soccer and futsal training platform that is both top level and affordable. With a lack of soccer and futsal resources in the East Bay, Golden Boot Academy works with athletes and their families to help them grow and become successful. When asked why this coaching duo started Golden Boot Academy they said, "With a good support system and some hard work, we believe anyone can achieve what they put their mind to." At Senda Athletics, we want to recover the unifying power of soccer and futsal, while changing lives along the way. Coaches Nigus and Yohannes have the same philosophy when it comes to this beautiful game. "First and foremost, we want to create positive individuals that are active and supportive members of society. We want not only to help our clients become better athletes or soccer players but better people in general, people with good morals and values." Understanding that there is a rapid and quick growth of futsal in the United States, Golden Boot Academy offers futsal training to help their athletes gain an advantage in the sports. Futsal training helps players compete at a faster pace, which requires athletes to make quicker decisions within tighter spaces. It also requires athletes to think and play more creatively, increasing both their control and handle overall. This is why Golden Boot Academy offers futsal training to complement the skill set for 11 v 11 soccer. When asked why Golden Boot Academy has teamed up with Senda Athletics, they responded with: "First Reason is after doing our research on them we found out that they are a Fair Trade company who believe in giving back to the communities and helping others live better lives, which is something we value as well. The second thing is we wanted to work with a community company who believes in same ideologies as we do. We also love the balls a lot we have got nothing but the best feedback from our clients about the balls, they love them as much as we do." With a strong belief that both soccer and futsal help build a better community and bring happiness, it easy to see why Golden Boot Academy and Senda Athletics have teamed up.
Senda recognized as a "2018 Best For The World" Benefit Corporation
Earlier in June, it was announced that Senda Athletics was recognized as a "Best For The World Honoree" in the category of Corporate Governance by B Lab, a non-profit organization which created and awards the B-Corporation certification for socially responsible companies. Today, B Lab announced the "2018 Best For The World" Changemakers list, which includes Senda Athletics. The Changemakers list honors the B Corps who have taken the greatest strides to create measurable impact improvement over the last two years. Improvement on this scale isn’t easy work. Companies on this list have converted to employee ownership, changed to local or more sustainable suppliers, and invested in diversifying their board and employees. The algorithm used to calculate the Changemakers list assesses positive change made on individual questions. Earning recognition from B Lab for this award was a result of Senda Athletics earning a high score on the "B Impact Assessment". The B Impact Assessment judges a company's performance in the standards such as environmental sustainability, diversity, employee relationships, involvement in the local community, and value created for society. In the specific category of Governance, companies are assessed on their overall mission, ethics, accountability, and transparency. It measures whether a company has adopted certain social/environmental objectives, and how well it engages company members as well as the outside community with respect to that mission. Furthermore, this section assesses employee access to financial information, customers' opportunities to provide feedback, and the diversity of the company's governing bodies. We at Senda feel very grateful to B Lab for selecting us as a “Best For The World Honoree”. Senda takes pride in its ability to produce high-quality fair trade soccer and futsal balls while still providing livable wages to our workers in Pakistan. Being labeled as an honoree in the category of Governance is a very rewarding distinction as it affirms our status as a social venture. We would also like to thank Elizabeth Babson and her colleagues at Drinker Biddle LLP, who have been with us throughout our entire B Corp and fundraising journeys. Senda would not be where it is if it wasn’t for our friends at DrinkerBiddle and their incredible support in our legal needs. We highly recommend Drinker Biddle LLP and Elizabeth (Lizzie to us!) to B Corps and socially responsible businesses. Providing fair trade soccer balls and working with its non-profit partners is Senda's primary way of giving back to the community. Check out our special B-Corporation soccer balls here.
Senda recognized as a "2018 Best For The World" Benefit Corporation
Earlier in June, it was announced that Senda Athletics was recognized as a "Best For The World Honoree" in the category of Corporate Governance by B Lab, a non-profit organization which created and awards the B-Corporation certification for socially responsible companies. Today, B Lab announced the "2018 Best For The World" Changemakers list, which includes Senda Athletics. The Changemakers list honors the B Corps who have taken the greatest strides to create measurable impact improvement over the last two years. Improvement on this scale isn’t easy work. Companies on this list have converted to employee ownership, changed to local or more sustainable suppliers, and invested in diversifying their board and employees. The algorithm used to calculate the Changemakers list assesses positive change made on individual questions. Earning recognition from B Lab for this award was a result of Senda Athletics earning a high score on the "B Impact Assessment". The B Impact Assessment judges a company's performance in the standards such as environmental sustainability, diversity, employee relationships, involvement in the local community, and value created for society. In the specific category of Governance, companies are assessed on their overall mission, ethics, accountability, and transparency. It measures whether a company has adopted certain social/environmental objectives, and how well it engages company members as well as the outside community with respect to that mission. Furthermore, this section assesses employee access to financial information, customers' opportunities to provide feedback, and the diversity of the company's governing bodies. We at Senda feel very grateful to B Lab for selecting us as a “Best For The World Honoree”. Senda takes pride in its ability to produce high-quality fair trade soccer and futsal balls while still providing livable wages to our workers in Pakistan. Being labeled as an honoree in the category of Governance is a very rewarding distinction as it affirms our status as a social venture. We would also like to thank Elizabeth Babson and her colleagues at Drinker Biddle LLP, who have been with us throughout our entire B Corp and fundraising journeys. Senda would not be where it is if it wasn’t for our friends at DrinkerBiddle and their incredible support in our legal needs. We highly recommend Drinker Biddle LLP and Elizabeth (Lizzie to us!) to B Corps and socially responsible businesses. Providing fair trade soccer balls and working with its non-profit partners is Senda's primary way of giving back to the community. Check out our special B-Corporation soccer balls here.
Senda Spotlight: Diego Giustozzi, Argentina's Futsal World Cup Winning Coach
Diego Giustozzi, an Argentine Futsal World Cup winning coach, hosted a three-day clinic from June 11th-13th with Rose City Futsal Academy in Portland, Oregon. Senda Athletics worked with Rose City Futsal Academy to provide the gear used by the players during Giustozzi's weekend clinic with the futsal academy. As a former member of the River Plate Futsal Team in the AFA Futsal Championship, Giustozzi also played in the FIFA Futsal World Championships in both 2004 and 2008. As a competitor who has played in futsal leagues in countries such as Italy and Spain, Giustozzi has made a name for himself as one of the greatest Argentinian futsal players of all time. Senda engaged in a conversation with Diego Giustozzi about his life in futsal, as both a player and a coach. When asked about the most difficult aspect of being a futsal coach, the former Futsal World Cup winner responded, "I think that the most difficult part about being a coach is carrying out the ideas rooted in theory and practice. Normally, your coach always has an idea and is convinced in something that he wants, but the difficult part is making that a reality; there are a multitude of principles that you always have to consider that need to be concrete". Giustozzi also discusses the transition from being a futsal player to a coach, "For me personally, my experience as a futsal player has helped me tremendously, because of the type of player I was and the way that I thought off of the pitch. My style of play was never very flashy and I always found myself more of a coach on the pitch, which has helped me to make decisions as a technical director". One of the most difficult parts of being a futsal coach is finding the best way to achieve a competitive and winning mentality out of your players. Giustozzi shares his outlook on this objective, "I don't have a planned out strategy-I think that if I created one I wouldn't get the most important things done. My strategy is something that I hold within, where sincerity, daily tasks, planning, and professionalism are all things I have to consider to earn credibility". Rose City Futsal Academy held a training clinic session with Giustozzi as a special guest coach, and he had this to say regarding the experience, "The truth is that I left very happy with how Rose City treated me and above all, how involved the people were in every conversation, every technical training, and every practice that I had". Speaking about the future of futsal in the United States, Giustozzi was optimistic, "I believe that the U.S. has huge potential due to its wide margin to improve, has a large quantity of players, a great quality of players, and the proper infrastructure. The important thing for futsal in the United States in the future is to find the right path to growth". Giustozzi coached the Argentine National Futsal Team to a FIFA Futsal World Cup Final Victory in 2016. His emotions as a result of winning the trophy were expanded upon, "On a personal level, it was a single moment of joy that I hold with me for the rest of my life, but what it really changed was my professional life. The story of sport in Argentina changed; the same teams do not always win and we showed that by defeating Spain". Finally, when asked if he had any specific objectives as a futsal coach, Giustozzi displays his humility, "My goal has been the same as always and I don't give myself title-driven goals, as they are most often a result of various different reasons. My goals are not framed by winning titles, but rather by being the same person from Argentina that I was before I started winning titles and to not distract myself from the most important thing, my daily work. There are many moments of sacrifice, many moments of making decisions, and the details will make the difference. With that, the titles and opportunities to coach clubs will come. Giustozzi recently announced that he would be leaving his position as the coach for the Argentinian National Futsal Team, and is now a coach for El Pozo Murcia FS. Senda would like to thank Diego Giustozzi for being a positive figure in the futsal community and his passion for the sport we all love.
Senda Spotlight: Diego Giustozzi, Argentina's Futsal World Cup Winning Coach
Diego Giustozzi, an Argentine Futsal World Cup winning coach, hosted a three-day clinic from June 11th-13th with Rose City Futsal Academy in Portland, Oregon. Senda Athletics worked with Rose City Futsal Academy to provide the gear used by the players during Giustozzi's weekend clinic with the futsal academy. As a former member of the River Plate Futsal Team in the AFA Futsal Championship, Giustozzi also played in the FIFA Futsal World Championships in both 2004 and 2008. As a competitor who has played in futsal leagues in countries such as Italy and Spain, Giustozzi has made a name for himself as one of the greatest Argentinian futsal players of all time. Senda engaged in a conversation with Diego Giustozzi about his life in futsal, as both a player and a coach. When asked about the most difficult aspect of being a futsal coach, the former Futsal World Cup winner responded, "I think that the most difficult part about being a coach is carrying out the ideas rooted in theory and practice. Normally, your coach always has an idea and is convinced in something that he wants, but the difficult part is making that a reality; there are a multitude of principles that you always have to consider that need to be concrete". Giustozzi also discusses the transition from being a futsal player to a coach, "For me personally, my experience as a futsal player has helped me tremendously, because of the type of player I was and the way that I thought off of the pitch. My style of play was never very flashy and I always found myself more of a coach on the pitch, which has helped me to make decisions as a technical director". One of the most difficult parts of being a futsal coach is finding the best way to achieve a competitive and winning mentality out of your players. Giustozzi shares his outlook on this objective, "I don't have a planned out strategy-I think that if I created one I wouldn't get the most important things done. My strategy is something that I hold within, where sincerity, daily tasks, planning, and professionalism are all things I have to consider to earn credibility". Rose City Futsal Academy held a training clinic session with Giustozzi as a special guest coach, and he had this to say regarding the experience, "The truth is that I left very happy with how Rose City treated me and above all, how involved the people were in every conversation, every technical training, and every practice that I had". Speaking about the future of futsal in the United States, Giustozzi was optimistic, "I believe that the U.S. has huge potential due to its wide margin to improve, has a large quantity of players, a great quality of players, and the proper infrastructure. The important thing for futsal in the United States in the future is to find the right path to growth". Giustozzi coached the Argentine National Futsal Team to a FIFA Futsal World Cup Final Victory in 2016. His emotions as a result of winning the trophy were expanded upon, "On a personal level, it was a single moment of joy that I hold with me for the rest of my life, but what it really changed was my professional life. The story of sport in Argentina changed; the same teams do not always win and we showed that by defeating Spain". Finally, when asked if he had any specific objectives as a futsal coach, Giustozzi displays his humility, "My goal has been the same as always and I don't give myself title-driven goals, as they are most often a result of various different reasons. My goals are not framed by winning titles, but rather by being the same person from Argentina that I was before I started winning titles and to not distract myself from the most important thing, my daily work. There are many moments of sacrifice, many moments of making decisions, and the details will make the difference. With that, the titles and opportunities to coach clubs will come. Giustozzi recently announced that he would be leaving his position as the coach for the Argentinian National Futsal Team, and is now a coach for El Pozo Murcia FS. Senda would like to thank Diego Giustozzi for being a positive figure in the futsal community and his passion for the sport we all love.