Edgar Rivas (pictured) will captain Panama at the 2016 CONCACAF Futsal Championship. (Photo courtesy of the Federación Panameña de Fútbol)

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Edgar Rivas can’t imagine life without the game and he’s hoping that passion carries his side to a second consecutive appearance in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

The 27-year-old scored twice in Central American qualifying, helping Panama gain a berth in the 2016 CONCACAF Futsal Championship (CFC), which will be played May 8-14 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

“It’s my life,” said Rivas, who plays for Perejil. “Although I have played 11 v 11 football, including when I belonged to Asociación Deportiva Orión (when it was in the Ascenso—the second level of professional football in Panama). Futsal is mine.”

Panama qualified for the 2012 Futsal World Cup after third-place finish at the CONCACAF tournament earlier that year. It was the only one of CONCACAF’s four representative to advance past the group stage in Thailand, ultimately falling to Brazil in the round of 16.

Four years later, Rivas feels that the team is better positioned to succeed and even surpass past performances.

“We are going to show the whole world that our first qualification to the World Cup was not an accident,” he commented. “It will be challenging, but we have improved technically in comparison to four years ago. We will look to impose our football no matter the opponent.”

As a product of hard work, Rivas has remained as a member of the national team since 2012, earning the team’s captaincy. He hopes to lead by example in Costa Rica and get the Canaleros to a second straight World Cup.

“It has been important to be able to perform in this role,” said Rivas of being captain. “I have managed to win the respect of my teammates and the trust of the coach. We share a lot, both on and off the field. They call me “Siervo” (Servant). Unity, humility and competitive spirit, those are our values.”

Panama will meet Guatemala in its CFC opener on May 8, before completing Group A play against the Honduras/Trinidad & Trinidad playoff winner (May 9) and Mexico (May 10).