What is the most number of goals scored in any FISTF World Cup final match = across all categories.
Send your answer to:  board@fistf.com
Five prizes to be awarded: one FISTF pin.

FISTF decision is final in all cases.

Some serious research has been done on the Teams finals at the FISTF World Cup since 1994.
As a result we’ve put together some facts and figures based on lists of players with most team winners medals.

Massimilliano Nastasi and Massimo Bolognino (ITA) have 12 victories each in the Open Category, followed by Saverio Bari (9), Daniele Bertelli (7), and Francesco Mattiangeli (6) – all of Italy.
Mattiangelli also has 10 wins in the Veterans Category, ahead of Stefano De Francesco (8) and Gianfranco Calonico (5) all of Italy.
In the U19/20 category, Luigi Di Vito (ITA) with 5 wins leads countryman Luca Zambello (4).
Luca Battista (ITA) and Paolo Zambello (ITA) have both won 4 titles in the U15/16 category.
In the Women’s category, Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) has 11 team wins, ahead of teammate Elodie Bertholet (9).

Combining all categories see Francesco Mattiangeli lead the ranking with 16 victories, ahead of Bolognino (13), De Francesco (12) and Dieudonné (11).

Marco Di Vita of Italy has a unique record: winning team events in three categories — U12 (2011, 2012), U16 (2013, 2014, 2015) and U20 (2017, 2018).

Others to win across two categories are Mattiangelli (6 open 10 vets), Bolognino (12 Open, 1 Vets), De Francesco (4 open 8 vets), Bertelli (8 Open, 1 U19), Luca Battista (ITA) (3 U20, 4 U15), Luca Zambello (2 Open 4 Vets), Juan Manuel Noguera (ESP) (3 U20 2 Open), Arnaud Nullens (BEL) (2 U20 2 U16), Leonardo Giudice (ITA) (2 U16 2 U12), and Nicolas Baccega (BEL) (2 U20 2 U16).

[embeddoc url=”https://fistf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Multiple-Team-Winners-v3.xlsx” viewer=”microsoft”]

These lists are as complete as we can make them.
Many thanks to Vincent Coppenolle for his records, as well as Roger Trouillard, Chris Aggelinas and Francesco Mattiangeli  for his detailed updates.
If you have any more information and would like the complete Excel sheet, email us at board@fistf.com

A surprising number of players have appeared in more than one final. This is spread across all six categories.

Open
Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) has two victories (2003 and 2011) from five finals (2001, 2012, 2015). Massimo Bolognino has three victories (2000, 2001, 2005) from four finals (2002). Carlos Flores (ESP) has three wins from three final appearances (2010, 2012, 2015), while Daniele Bertelli has two wins (2007, 2009) from three finals (2010). Giancarlo Giulianini (ITA) has one victory in 2004 and two losses 1998 and 2003. Gil Delogne (BEL) won both appearances (1998, 2002), Massimo Cremona (MLT) (2006, 2011) and Saverio Bari (ITA) (2008, 2013) have both appeared in two finals without success.

Women
Delphine Dieudonne (BEL) holds the amazing record of 14 finals appearances, with 13 victories. Françoise Guyot (FRA) appeared in five finals, winning once, while Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) has two victories from her five final appearances.

Veterans
Renzo Frignani (ITA) has four Veterans’ crowns to his name, with another two runners-up medals. Martijn Bom (NED) has three victories to his name and two other appearances in the final. Francesco Mattiangeli (ITA) has two crowns and a runners-up medal. Erich Hinkelmann (AUT) and countryman Günther Bamberzky (AUT) both have two finals appearances without success. Massimo Bolognino (ITA) won both of his finals, while Stefano De Francesco (ITA) had one victory from his three appearances. Filipe Maia (POR), Thierry Vivron (FRA), Vicenç Prats Salas (ESP) and Gianfranco Calonico (ITA) all have one final victory and a loss.

U20/19
Bjorn Kegenbein (GER) had a perfect record in the category, with three wins from three appearances. On the other hand, Arnaud Nullens (BEL) lost all three finals he contested. Daniele Bertelli (ITA), Luigi Di Vito (ITA), Nicolas Wlodarczyk (FRA), Simone Bertelli (ITA), and Stefano Buono (ITA) all claimed two victories from two final appearances. Carlo Flores (ESP) lost both finals in which he appeared in this category.

U15/16
Five players have claimed two crowns in this combined category, with Claudio La Torre (ITA), Leonardo Giudice (ITA) , Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA), Simão Fonseca (POR) and Wolfgang Haas (AUT). La Torre also lost one final. Corentin Bouchez (BEL) fell in both finals he contested. Jessica Hardenne (BEL) is the only female player to win an non-dedicated female category, winning in 2002 in Manchester.

U12
Diego Tagliaferri (ITA), Giorgio Giudice (ITA) and Marco Di Vito (ITA) have all claimed two titles in the most junior of categories. Francesco Borgo (ITA) won one title and lost another final, as did Leonardo Giudice (ITA). Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) lost both finals he contested.

(With thanks to Francesco Mattiangeli and Vincent Coppenolle)

Players winning multiple categories are a special breed.
Two players have won three separate categories, moving up from U16/15 to U20/19 and then Open:
Spain’s Juan Manuel Noguera won the U15 in 2005, then the U19 in 2008 and the Open title in 2014.
Similarly, Matteo Ciccarelli of Italy won the U15 in 2012 and 2014, then the U19 in 2016 and the Open title in Gibraltar in 2018. He will be in Rome to defend his crown.

Additionally, Claudio La Torre of Italy won the U12 category in 2013, then the U15 in 2015 and 2017.
Leonardo Giudice of Italy won the U12 in 2015 and then the U15 in 2016 and 2018, while Björn Kegenbein of Germany won the U15 title in 2008 and then the U19 crown in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Massimo Bolognino (ITA) won the Open category in 2000, 2001 and 2005 and then the Veterans category in 2013 and 2015.
Daniele Bertelli (ITA) won the U19 category in 2005 and 2006, and then the Open category in 2007 and 2009.

With one month to go, we are looking back at the history of the FISTF World Cup with some facts and figures and curiosities.

There have been 22 FISTF World Cups, and included in this are a number of multi-gold medallists:

Open
Carlos Flores (ESP) and Massimo Bologniono (ITA) have both won the Open category three times.
Flores is contesting the Open Category in Rome, with a chance to take outright all-time lead.
Other multi-winners are Gil Delogne (BEL), Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) and Daniele Bertelli (ITA) who have all won the Open Category twice – with Bertelli winning the U19 event twice as well.

Women
Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) has won the Women’s event 13 times since her first victory in Paris in 1994. She has retired from international play, and is currently President of the Belgian association.
Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) has won the event twice, while Jessica Hardenne (BEL) won the U15 event in 2002 and then in 2014 won the Women’s category.
Defending world champion Audrey Herbaut (FRA) will compete, as will previous winners Portugal’s Carolina Villargues (2016), Italy’s Giuditta Lo Cascio (2011) and France’s Françoise Guyot (2007).

Veterans
Italy’s Renzo Frignani has taken four Veterans’ titles, just ahead of Martijn Bom of the Netherlands, who won it three times. Both Massimo Bolognino and Francesco Mattiangeli of Italy have won the Veterans twice and will both contest the event in Rome.
Defending Champion Charles Aquilina of Malta will be aiming to defend his title, while 2016 Veterans Champion Gianfranco Calonico (ITA) and Spain’s Juan Carlos Granados (2010) and Vincent Prats (2011) will be aiming for repeat titles.

U19/20
Björn Kegenbein of Germany has the most U19 crowns, winning in 2009, 2011 and 2012. He also took the U15 title in 2008.
Simone Bertelli (ITA), Nicolas Wlodarczyk (FRA), Daniele Bertelli (ITA), Stefano Buono (ITA), Luigi Di Vito (ITA) have all claimed two U19 titles.

U15/16
Wolfgang Haas of Austria won two U16 titles, in 1996 and 1998, while Simão Fonseca (POR) took the 2000 and 2001 titles. Italy’s Matteo Ciccarelli (2012 and 2014) and Claudio La Torre (2015 and 2017) are also dual champions in this category.

U12
Three players have won the U12 title twice: Diego Tagliaferri (ITA)  in 2008 and 2009, Marco Di Vito (ITA)  in 2011 and 2012, and Giorgio Giudice (ITA) in 2016 and 2018,

We will also address the Team multi-winners in a coming post.

A look back at all the finals of the team events at the FISTF World Cup.
If there are changes/errors in line-ups, please contact us at board@fistf.com

[embeddoc url=”https://fistf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/All-champions-Teams-finals-reformatted.xlsx” viewer=”microsoft”]

Many thanks to Vincent Coppenolle for his records, as well as Roger Trouillard, and Chris Aggelinas.
If you would like the complete Excel sheet, email us at board@fistf.com

A look back at all the finals of individual events at the FISTF World Cup

Open
1994 Paris, FRA: Eric Naszalyi (FRA) – Dominique De Marco (BEL) 1-2
1996 Silkeborg, DEN: Vasco Guimaraes (POR) – Filipe Maia (POR) 2-1
1998 Namur, BEL: Gil Delogne (BEL) – Giancarlo Giulianini (ITA) 1*-1
2000 Vienna, AUT: Stefano De Francesco (ITA) – Massimo Bolognino (ITA) 1-3
2001 Porto, POR: Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) – Massimo Bolognino (ITA) 1-1* (4-5 shots)
2002 Birmingham, ENG: Massimo Bolognino (ITA) – Gil Delogne (BEL) 1-2ms
2003 Cospicua, MLT: Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) – Giancarlo Giulianini (ITA) 3-1
2004 Bologna, ITA: Giancarlo Giulianini (ITA) – Eric Verhagen (NED) 2-1
2005 Tournai, BEL: Alain Hanotiaux (BEL) – Massimo Bolognino (ITA) 2-3
2006 Dortmund, GER: Massimo Cremona (MLT) – Efrem Intra (ITA) 1-2ms (0-1)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Kasper Bennett (ENG) – Daniele Bertelli (ITA) 0-1
2008 Vienna, AUT: Eric Verhagen (NED) – Saverio Bari (ITA) 2-1ms
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Valéry Dejardin (BEL)- Daniele Bertelli (ITA) 2-4
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: Carlos Flores (ESP) – Daniele Bertelli (ITA) 4-2
2011 Palermo, ITA: Massimo Cremona (MLT)- Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) 2-2*
2012 Manchester, ENG: Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) – Carlos Flores (ESP) 3-5
2013 Madrid, ESP: Saverio Bari (ITA) – Alberto Mateos Navarro (ESP) 1-2
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Sérgio Ramos (POR) – Juan Manuel Noguera (ESP) 0-2
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Massimiliano Nastasi (ITA) – Carlos Flores (ESP) 2-7
2016 Framerie, BEL: Wolfgang Leitner (AUT) – Luca Colangelo (ITA) 2-1
2017 Paris, FRA: Rémy Huynh (BEL) – Wolfgang Leitner (AUT) 1-0
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) – Justin Leroy (BEL) 5-0

ALL WOMENS FINALS
1994 Paris, FRA: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Bettina Exler (AUT) 3-1
1996 Silkeborg, DEN: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Sophie Pons (FRA) 3-0
1998 Namur, BEL: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) 3-2
2000 Vienna, AUT: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Cynthia Bouchez (BEL) 3-0
2001 Porto, POR: Carla Conceição (POR) – Aurélie Lucq (BEL) 3-2ms
2002 Birmingham, ENG: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Françoise Guyot (FRA) 3-0
2003 Cospicua, MLT: Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) – Jessica Hardenne (BEL) 2-1
2004 Bologna, ITA: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) 4-1
2005 Tournai, BEL: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) 3-2
2006 Dortmund, GER: Kamilla Kristensen (DEN) – Michaela Scherbaum (AUT) 1-0 (0-0)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Françoise Guyot (FRA) – Jessica Hardenne (BEL) 0*-0
2008 Vienna, AUT: Françoise Guyot (FRA)- Michaela Scherbaum (AUT) 2-2*
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Françoise Guyot (FRA) 7-2
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Françoise Guyot (FRA) 1-0
2011 Palermo, ITA: Giuditta Lo Cascio (ITA) – Trisha Baumeler (SUI) 2-0
2012 Manchester, ENG: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Emilie Despretz (BEL) 5-1
2013 Madrid, ESP: Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) – Carmela Gerosa Cisneros (ESP) 4-2
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Jessica Hardenne (BEL) – Delphine Dieudonné (BEL) 2*-2
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Delphine Dieudonne (BEL) – Paola Forlani (ITA) 5-2
2016 Framerie, BEL: Carolina Villarigues (POR) – Victoria Büsing (GER) 3-0
2017 Paris, FRA: Delphine Dieudonne (BEL) – Audrey Herbaut (FRA) 4-0
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Audrey Herbaut (FRA) – Eleonora Buttitta (ITA) 2-1

All U12 finals
2005 Tournai, BEL: Joris Bois (FRA) – Mattia Bellotti (ITA) 0-1 (Unofficial)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Mitchell Timmers (NED) – Matthew Pace (MLT) 1-4 (Unofficial)
2008 Vienna, AUT: Diego Tagliaferri (ITA) – Emanuele Lo Cascio (ITA) 3-0
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) – Diego Tagliaferri (ITA) 3-4
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: Ernesto Gentile (ITA) – Kai Hagenkötter (GER) 1-4
2011 Palermo, ITA: Marco Di Vito (ITA) – Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) 3-2
2012 Manchester, ENG: Nicola Borgo (ITA) – Marco Di Vito (ITA) 0-3
2013 Madrid, ESP: Marios Strommer (AUT) – Claudio La Torre (ITA) 1-4
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Leonardo Giudice (ITA) – Francesco Vezzuto (ITA) 3-4ms
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Leonardo Giudice (ITA) – Matteo Cammarata (ITA) 4-3
2016 Framerie, BEL: Giorgio Giudice (ITA) – Kristian Slagiev (ESP) 3-2
2017 Paris, FRA: Francesco Borgo (ITA) – Francesco Tozzi (ITA) 1-0
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Giorgio Giudice (ITA) – Francesco Borgo (ITA) 1-0

Veterans
1994 Paris, FRA: Not played
1996 Silkeborg, DEN: Thierry Vivron (FRA) – Gerhard Ecker (AUT) 0-1
1998 Namur, BEL: Nasos Fotopoulos (GRE) – Thierry Vivron (FRA) 1-2
2000 Vienna, AUT: Horst Deimel (AUT) – Massimo Conti (ITA) 5*-4
2001 Porto, POR: Steve Grégoire (BEL) – Renzo Frignani (ITA) 0-1
2002 Birmingham, ENG: Stefano De Francesco (ITA) – René Bolte (NED) 2-1
2003 Cospicua, MLT: Renzo Frignani (ITA) – Arturo Martinez (ESP) 2-2*
2004 Bologna, ITA: Martijn Bom (NED) – Renzo Frignani (ITA) 3-4
2005 Tournai, BEL: Martijn Bom (NED) – Renzo Frignani (ITA) 2-3
2006 Dortmund, GER: Martijn Bom (NED) – Renzo Frignani (ITA) 1-0 (1-0)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Erich Hinkelmann (AUT) – Renzo Frignani (ITA) 2-3
2008 Vienna, AUT: Stefano De Francesco (ITA) – Martijn Bom (NED) 0-1ms
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Martijn Bom (NED) – Erich Hinkelmann (AUT) 3-2
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: Juan Carlos Granados (ESP) – Francesco Mattiangeli (ITA) 0*-0
2011 Palermo, ITA: Stefano De Francesco (ITA) – Vicenç Prats Salas (ESP) 1-1*
2012 Manchester, ENG: Vicenç Prats Salas (ESP) – Francesco Mattiangeli (ITA) 2-3ms
2013 Madrid, ESP: Günther Bamberzky (AUT) – Massimo Bolognino (ITA) 0-2
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Gianfranco Calonico (ITA) – Francesco Mattiangeli (ITA) 0-2
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Filipe Maia (POR) – Massimo Bolognino (ITA) 0-2
2016 Framerie, BEL: Gianfranco Calonico (ITA) – Massimo Cremona (MLT) 6-2
2017 Paris, FRA: Günther Bamberzky (AUT) – Filipe Maia (POR) 0-1
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Charles Aquilina (MLT) – Pascal Scheen (BEL) 2-1

ALL U19/20 FINALS
1994 Paris, FRA: (U20) Joseph Borg Bonaci (MLT) – Vasco Guimaraes (POR) 1-0
1996 Silkeborg, DEN: (U20) Ouabi Rouis (FRA) – Simone Bertelli (ITA) 3-4
1998 Namur, BEL: (U20) Simone Bertelli (ITA) – Valéry Dejardin (BEL) 2-0
2000 Vienna, AUT: Jean-Guillaume Einsle (FRA) – Nicolas Wlodarczyk (FRA) 2-3
2001 Porto, POR: Carlos Flores (ESP) – Nicolas Wlodarczyk (FRA) 1-1 (3-4 shots)
2002 Birmingham, ENG: Sami Targui (BEL) – Cédric Garnier (FRA) 1-0
2003 Cospicua, MLT: Roderick Sciberras (MLT) – Carlo Flores (ESP) 2-1ms
2004 Bologna, ITA: Arnaud Nullens (BEL) – Daniele Bertelli (ITA) 1-7
2005 Tournai, BEL: Samuel Bartolo (MLT) – Daniele Bertelli (ITA) 1-2
2006 Dortmund, GER: Stefano Buono (ITA) – Arnaud Nullens (BEL) 1*-1 (1-0)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Stefano Buono (ITA) – Arnaud Nullens (BEL) 5-4ms
2008 Vienna, AUT: Juan Manuel Noguera (ESP) – José Antonio Gomez Ros (ESP) 6-2
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Dominik Schulz (GER) – Björn Kegenbein (GER) 2-3
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: José Antonio Gómez Ros (ESP) – Casey van Os (NED) 4-1
2011 Palermo, ITA: Luca Zambello (ITA) – Bjorn Kegenbein (GER) 2-4
2012 Manchester, ENG: Luca Battista (ITA) – Björn Kegenbein (GER) 2-4
2013 Madrid, ESP: Luigi Di Vito (ITA) – David Gonzalez (ESP) 4-0
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Micael Caviglia (ITA) – Luigi Di Vito (ITA) 1-2ms
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Claudio Panebianco (ITA) – David González (ESP) 0-4
2016 Framerie, BEL: Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) – Nicola Borgo (ITA) 3-0
2017 Paris, FRA: Nicola Borgo (ITA) – Filippo Cubeta (ITA) 2-1ms
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Marco Di Vito (ITA) – Giuseppe Pizzella (ITA) 3-1

All Under 15/16
1994 Paris, FRA: Darren Scicluna (MLT) – Efrem Intra (ITA) 4-0 (U16)
1996 Silkeborg, DEN: Dionisis Koutis (GRE) – Wolfgang Haas (AUT) 1-2 (U16)
1998 Namur, BEL: Alberto Mateos Navarro (ESP) – Wolfgang Haas (AUT) 0-5 (U16)
2000 Vienna, AUT: Bruno Magalhaes (POR) – Simao Fonseca (POR) 1-1*
2001 Porto, POR: Simão Fonseca (POR) – Samuel Bartolo (MLT) 4-0
2002 Birmingham, ENG: Arnaud Nullens (BEL) – Jessica Hardenne (BEL) 3-4
2003 Cospicua, MLT: Arnaud Nullens (BEL) – Stefano Buono (ITA) 2*-2
2004 Bologna, ITA: Daniel Wienbrandt (GER) – Ricardo Barros (POR) 1-2
2005 Tournai, BEL: Kristian Staal Nielsen (DEN) – Juan Gabriel Noguera (ESP) 1-2
2006 Dortmund, GER: Kristian Staal Nielsen (DEN) – Mattia Bellotti (ITA) 3-2 (2-0)
2007 Les Herbiers, FRA: Bjorn Kegenbein (GER) – Ruben Português (POR) 1-2
2008 Vienna, AUT: Mitchell Timmers (NED) – Bjorn Kegenbein (GER) 1-8
2009 Rotterdam, NED: Andrea Manganello (ITA) – Emanuele Lo Cascio (ITA) 2-3
2010 Rain am Lech, GER: Diego Tagliaferri (ITA) – Marcel Kwiatkowski (GER) 2-3
2011 Palermo, ITA: Luca Colangelo (ITA) – Emanuele Lo Cascio (ITA) 4-3
2012 Manchester, ENG: Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) – David González (ESP) 4-3
2013 Madrid, ESP: Kaï Hagenkötter (GER) – Claudio Panebianco (ITA) 1-2
2014 Rochefort, BEL: Matteo Ciccarelli (ITA) – Claudio Panebianco (ITA) 2-1ms
2015 San Benedetto, ITA: Claudio La Torre (ITA) – Nicola Borgo (ITA) 6-5ms
2016 Framerie, BEL: Leonardo Giudice (ITA) – Claudio La Torre (ITA) 3-2
2017 Paris, FRA: Corentin Bouchez (BEL) – Claudio La Torre (ITA) 4-8
2018 Gibraltar, GIB: Leonardo Giudice (ITA) – Corentin Bouchez (BEL) 4-2

As the FISTF World Cup approaches, we’re taking the opportunity to introduce some of the newer and revived nations taking part in the World Cup.
We’re starting with our newest member, Ukraine.
Former French table football player and 3FT president Thomas Ponte is the moving force behind the nascent Ukraine association.
Married to a Ukrainian wife, he has lived in Ukraine for more than two years, working as a teacher of French to Ukrainian students.
“My life was in Odessa where my job was and our flat. I have had official residency in Ukraine, and even if we are now currently in Paris, my aim is to return to Ukraine as soon as possible: our life is in Ukraine,” Thomas said.
“In July 2021 I started teaching table football as well to my language students.

“I founded an Instagram page to improve the game in Ukraine and reach out to more players.

Instagram account

“We were well on our way to planning Ukraine’s Championship in June 2022, combining the players in Odessa with others we had found in Kyiv.”
Unfortunately, events intervened in Thomas’ plans.
“I woke up in the early morning of 24th February hearing explosions near my apartment in Odessa,” he said.
“No one knows what could happen in Ukraine in the next months especially in Odessa which is a strategic city. Then I hope to continue my life there when peace will come back. But it’s currently very difficult to project yourself into the future.”
Thomas believes things can develop in Ukraine with table football.
“I started to propose table football as an activity for the language school where I work in Odessa. I built a special table that I could transport alone (I have no car in Ukraine),” he said.
“In the beginning it was difficult because no one had heard of the game in Ukraine, but step by step I tried to attract new players and we were at least 10 players by December 2021. “

He said the first approach was to present the game as a discipline and not as a toy. He also appealed to family groups of adults and teenagers, winning them over.
“I didn’t feel any problems to motivate them to continue to play. Even more for players in Odessa for whom the prospect of a World Cup was a big motivation. “
Thomas’ and his players were all set to build three more tables for their Odessa club, in preparation for the June 2022 Ukrainian Championships, until the war. Additionally, he was looking long term.
“I have experience as French President, co-organizer of one World Cup and several international tournaments, to build things step by step,” he said.
“First developing the game in local clubs and then proposing international tournaments,” Thomas said.
He wasn’t overly optimistic about international events, knowing that he probably needed a large proportion of international or players from outside Odessa to make a successful event.

“But we have to have plans!”
Thomas understands why there are suspicions about the Ukrainian association.
“It was never my intention to do much promotion about my project to the international community before it started to be solid,” he said, explaining why to a large extent most people in the table football community were unaware of activities in Ukraine.

“Only a few players in France knew that I played table football in Ukraine. You can check the Instagram account I created, and I did first post in November 2020.” (www.instagram.com/table.football.ukraine)
“I think those who know me (I was more active in FISTF’s tournaments in 2000s than 2010s) know my dedication to table football,” Thomas said.
The war then accelerated Thomas’ plans.
While he was a few months short of the FISTF requirement for changing playing nationality (at least 3 continuous years residency of the country represented by the MNA of which  they are applying to become a member) he applied to FISTF for dispensation, which was granted.
“I didn’t do this – getting a Ukrainian team to play a World Cup — for myself. All reactions I have had in France about my new sport nationality were positive.
“But I can totally understand that some people believe that Ukraine is a fake federation.
“It’s why people are surprised to see Ukrainian players with French names registered. They must understand that any men aged from 18 to 60 cannot leave Ukraine.
“We have even had to withdraw one of our players who is now with the army, and there are others still in Ukraine who could be enlisted to defend their country at any moment,” he said.
“Then, when one of my colleagues,  Nicolas Bethencourt, with dual nationality, who also lives in Odessa, returned to France because of the war, we decided nevertheless to play this World Cup,” he said.
“We have also two other registered players, under 18 players, which is why they had the right to leave Ukraine, and moved to western Europe (one in Belgium, one in Switzerland).
“We will do our best, despite the current difficulties, to play in Rome,” he said.
“I can well understand players’ concerns, but we are there to develop our game.”
“For sure, once peace returns to Ukraine, we will build again,” he said.