Source: The-AFC.com

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated all the participating clubs who are through to the AFC Club Futsal Championship 2013 finals starting on August 26 in Nagoya, Japan.

Eight clubs - hosts Nagoya Oceans, defending champions Sanaye Giti Pasand (Iran), 2012 finalists Ardus (Uzbekistan), Chonburi Bluewave (Thailand), Shenzhen Nanling (China), Thai Son Nam (Vietnam), Al Sadd (Qatar) and Al Sadaka (Lebanon) are featuring in the finals.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate all the finalists who are going to compete in Nagoya,” Shaikh Salman said.

“Other clubs across the continent should take inspiration from these eight clubs who are primed to play at the highest level of Asian futsal.

“I am expecting a competitive tournament in Japan and hope that there will be some surprises. Futsal has grown a lot in Asia and it was justified when our national teams did reasonably well in the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand,” he added.

Three out of five Asian representatives managed to make it to the knockout stage of the FIFA Futsal World Cup last year.

He also thanked the Japan Football Association for hosting the tournament saying he has no doubts that the Japanese will once again host a successful event.

“I am also confident that our Japanese friends will make the event one of the best organised AFC tournaments,” he said.





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