From São Paulo to the streets of East London: A New Chapter Begins
São Paulo and East London may appear to be worlds apart.
One is home to the unmistakable rhythm of Brazilian futsal. The other is shaped by the streets of Newham, the courts of Shoreditch and generations of communities who have made East London their home.
Before arriving in London, Gustavo Santos Lopes was searching for a new challenge. Having developed his coaching experience in Brazil, including time as part of the technical staff at Esporte Clube Taboão/Magnus, he wanted to step beyond the environment he knew and discover the game from a different perspective.
His mission was simple: to learn English, to contribute and to begin again.
That search led him to Genesis Futsal Club.
Discovering Genesis
Gustavo discovered Genesis while searching for opportunities to continue in futsal after moving to London.
“I found out about Genesis through the futsal community and social media while I was looking for opportunities to continue with futsal in London.” - Gustavo
After he contacted the club, Genesis shared its story: founded in Newham in 2002 with humble beginnings and a commitment to making futsal accessible, creating opportunities and making a difference through a love for the game.
Those values immediately resonated with Gustavo.
Starting Again in London
Moving to another country means leaving behind familiarity.
It means stepping away from the people, places and routines that helped shape you. It means arriving somewhere new, learning a different culture and proving yourself all over again.
For Gustavo, London represented both uncertainty and opportunity.
He arrived in a city thousands of miles from home, carrying his experiences from Brazilian futsal but understanding that this was a new beginning.
"Learning English has also been a big part of my journey. I decided to come to London to improve my English through everyday life, while continuing with futsal. It’s still a learning process for me, but I’m improving every day and becoming more comfortable communicating with the players and staff." - Gustavo
Finding an East London Family
Genesis has always represented the communities that surround it.
The club carries the pride of Newham, the creativity of Shoreditch and the character of East London wherever it competes.
It is a club shaped by people who have arrived from different parts of the world and found a home through futsal.
Gustavo’s journey reflects that story. He is starting again, but he is not starting alone.
On his second day in London, and his first day working with the team, Gustavo joined Genesis at the England Futsal Summer Tournament.
There was little time for introductions.
Half of the squad was new.
Many had never played together before.
But the team found its way to the final.
Genesis faced Rise, formerly Bloomsbury, in a match decided by the smallest of margins. Chances came and went. Emma and her teammates produced moments of bravery on the line.
Penalties appeared inevitable.
Then, with only 10 seconds remaining, Genesis conceded.
A 1-0 defeat.
A difficult ending, but an encouraging beginning.
"I’m very happy to start this new chapter with Genesis. I’ve been working in futsal in Brazil for the last few years, gaining experience across different age groups and levels of competition. Moving to London is a new challenge in my career, and I want to bring the experience I gained in Brazil while also learning and adapting to the futsal environment in the UK." - Gustavo
The goal was not to win but to enjoy, meet and take in all he could from his first day.
Preparing for the National Futsal League
The work has already begun.
Genesis Women are now preparing for the 2026–27 National Futsal League season, which is set to commence on 26 September.
The new campaign represents an important step for the club’s women’s programme.
Every training session is an opportunity to establish the standards, identity and culture that will carry the programme forward.
The ambition is significant, but the vision remains humble.
"My style of play as intense, organised and aggressive. I like my teams to be comfortable with the ball, but also very active when we don’t have it."
"I focus a lot on the fundamentals of the game, defensive organisation, movement and decision-making. I want my teams to play with intensity, compete for every ball and always have a clear idea." - Gustavo
We are looking for players who want to compete, improve and contribute to a developing women’s futsal programme.
Whether you have previous futsal experience or come from a strong football background and want to learn the game, this is an opportunity to discover what you can bring to the court.
Players will have the chance to train within the Genesis environment, meet the coaching team and compete for places ahead of the new National Futsal League season.
Register your interest and take your opportunity to become part of the Genesis family.
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