Courtesy: The AFC.com


Can Keshavarz do the double?

Friday, 23 November 2012

Kuala Lumpur: Another stellar showing from Iran's Mohamad Keshavarz has seen the 2011 AFC Futsal Player of the Year back in contention for the coveted award but the Sanaye Giti Pasand star faces stiff competition from the equally impressive Rafael Henmi and Suphawut Thueanklang.

Keshavarz won last year's accolade following his MVP-winning display for former club Shahid Mansouri at the 2011 AFC Futsal Club Championship but being named the best player in a tournament does not always guarantee the AFC honour, with a number of other factors also taken into consideration.

Henmi is also no stranger to receiving MVP awards having emerged as the top player at the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship with a goal-a-game ratio and a series of standout performances for the victorious Japanese team to claim the individual accolade for a second time after being named the player of the tournament at the 2010 AFC Futsal Championship in Thailand

Henmi also made an outstanding contribution to Nagoya Oceans' 2012 AFC Futsal Club Championship campaign, where the Japanese champions reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Uzbekistan's Ardus.

The third contender for the prestigious 2012 AFC Futsal Player of the Year Award is the skilful Suphawut, who was an influential figure as Thailand caused one of the biggest upsets in the history of the AFC Futsal Championship when he scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals of UAE 2012 to knockout ten-time champions Iran and set-up a title decider with Japan.

The 24-year old, who scored seven times at the continental tournament, also represented GH Bank in the AFC Club Futsal Championship 2012.

The winner of the AFC Futsal Player of the Year prize will be revealed at the 2012 AFC Annual Award Ceremony which will take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on November 29.





Courtesy: The AFC.com


Fitting finale for futsal fans

Monday, 26 November 2012

Kuala Lumpur: Futsal fans of Iran, Japan and Thailand will be hoping their nation caps an impressive year by claiming the coveted AFC Futsal Team of the Year prize at Thursday's AFC Annual Awards.

In a year which has seen the indoor game in Asia continue its meteoric rise, the top three sides at the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship headline the trio of contenders following an epic tournament in the UAE that had skill, suspense and surprises in equal measure.

Japan won the AFC Futsal Championship for a second time with a 6-1 win over surprise package Thailand as the East Asians battled their way to glory with a 100% record.

Thailand, who would go on to host the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, entertained the crowds with their cavalier attacking approach which paid dividends when they created one of the biggest shocks in the history of the AFC Futsal Championship when they defeated ten-time champions Iran 5-4 in a thrilling semi-final.

It was business as usual for the imperious Iranians as they finished third with a 4-0 win over Australia, and having racked up an incredible 37 goals in their four matches prior to their shock loss to Thailand Ali Sanei's side showed why they remain the continent's undisputed futsal powerhouse.

Iran, whose Sanaye Giti Pasand lifted the AFC Club Futsal Championship 2012 by beating Uzbekistan's Ardus 2-1, Japan and Thailand all reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA Futsal World Cup as the continent's top three side's represented Asia with pride on the global stage.

The AFC Futsal Team of the Year will be unveiled at the 2012 AFC Annual Awards gala, which will take place on Thursday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.







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