Courtesy: The AFC.com


Ardus desperate to grow

Sunday, 01 July 2012

Kuwait City: Uzbek giants Ardus will try to put behind a disastrous 2011 campaign when they crashed out of the competition at the rock-bottom of Group B with a single point but to change things around this time, they need to punch above their weights against defending champions Nagoya Ocean on Sunday.

Despite bossing the domestic league and dominating the region, Ardus have been struggling in the competition and yet to register a win in the finals.

“We will definitely do better this year than last year,” said Uzbek coach Alexander Petrov, whose side won all their matches in the Zone 1 qualifiers being played by the champions of Qatar, UAE, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq.

“We have a decent squad which is assembled amongst nine Uzbekistan national players and one top quality Spanish player,” he revealed about the strengths of Ardus.

“The preparation went well though we resorted on setting up our training base in Tashkent,” he added.

After opening the campaign with litmus test against Nagoya Oceans, Ardus will meet Lebanon’s All Sports FC on Monday followed by Tuesday’s clash against Thai side GH Bank at Al Arabi Hall.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Lebanon’s success spurs Zakhour

Sunday, 01 July 2012

Kuwait City: All Sports FC’s head coach Dory Zakhour is determined to cash in on Lebanon’s good show in the recently concluded AFC Futsal Championship at the club level when they take on Thai side GH Bank on Sunday.

The Lebanon’s champions are automatic qualifiers as the champions of the member association whose club finished third in the previous edition as Lebanon’s Al Sakada had defeated Al Rayyan of Qatar in a thrilling third-place playoff in the penalty shootout after the score was tied at 4-4 in 2011.

“Everything has been ideal so far, we have a good balanced side with sound experiences at the international level. Seven of my players were involved in Lebanon’s good run in the recently concluded AFC Futsal Championship while there are one Brazilian and Japanese player in the squad,” said Zakhour.

Lebanon had managed to enter into the quarter-final of the AFC Futsal Championship before succumbing to eventual runners-up Thailand 5-3.

“In my personal opinion, this group is the more difficult having the defending champions and other contenders for the title but our job is to try our best.

“This tournament is also an opportunity for the Arab players to stamp their authority. Of late, Kuwait has been fantastic so as Al Rayyan and my team.”




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Giti Pasand to show no mercy

Sunday, 01 July 2012

Kuwait City: Iran have always been a dominant force in Asian futsal and coach Alireza Afzal of Sanaye Giti Pasand is in no mood to concede that label when they start the AFC Club Futsal Championship campaign against Vietnamese side Thai Son Nam on Sunday at the Yarmouk Indoor Stadium.

Sanaye Giti Pasand are the third Iranian champions featuring in as many competitions with Foolad Mahan Sepahan winning the inaugural championship in 2010 and Shahid Mansouri succumbing to a 3-2 extra time defeat to reigning champions Nagoya Oceans in the 2011 final.

“This is our first go at the continental adventures but we have special players having abilities to win this competition,” said head coach Afzal.

“Still teams from the East are more prolific and we are keeping close eyes on Japanese champions Nagoya Oceans as they will surely raise their performance in the competition,” he added.

Iranian legend Vahid Shamsaei was the part of Giti Pasand’s title winning campaign but since the domestic season finished in March, Shamsaei opted not to extend the contract and fellow national team player Ali Asghar Hassan Zadeh followed the suit.

“We still have three national players in the squad but other players are also very special so we are not worrying on those fronts,” confident Afzal added.

“This is sport, you need to prepare properly and covert your chances in the match, but we are playing against best sides of Asia so anything can happen,” he warned.

Giti Pasand will take on Vietnam champions Thai Son Nam on Sunday followed by matches against Al Rayyan and hosts Yarmouk SC.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com