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IRNA - Iran is determined to win the 5th Asian
futsal crown, said Mohammad-Hassan Ansarifard Friday.
Talking to IRNA, the head coach added 14 regulars have started training on July 24 and are now match-fit.
He called Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and Uzbekistan as the main rivals of his team, adding that these teams have worked hard in the
recent years to compete with Iran.
Ansarifard said he will field his top players from the very beginning to make them adopt the conditions of matches.
On July 23, the Iranian manager of Kuwait, Hossein Shams, said Iran will retain the Asian futsal title.
Shams told IRNA, "With management of Mohammad-Hassan Ansarifard and top players, Iran will undoubtedly snatch the top title.
"Iran is highly superior to other Asian futsal teams and will remain the undisputed Asian side in the coming years."
Kuwait's head coach added his team is in a difficult group.
National futsal team of Kuwait arrived in Tehran Sunday to hold a training camp.
Kuwait is getting ready for the 5th Asian Futsal Championships starting in Tehran on July 27.
Heading the Kuwaiti side, Abbas Dashti told IRNA the Arab team will play friendlies against Iranian teams during its camp.
He added Kuwait started its training two months ago and the newly-signed Iranian head coach Hossein Shams made the team ready for
the Asian event by incessant exercises.
Kuwait, Japan, Macau, and palestine are in Group A.
On June 30, former futsal head coach of Iran and Pas manager Hossein Shams signed a one-year contract with Kuwait to take the helm
of national side.
Shams said he may extend the contract if it appeals to him in terms of technical issues.
Tehran will host the Asian meet from July 27 to August 5.
The tournament was scheduled to take place during July 27-August 5 in Japan but concerns over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
forced the Japan Football Association to ask the game's governing
body, the Asian Football Confederation, to find another host." On June 8, the AFC announced the groups and fixtures of the 5th
Asian Futsal Championships in Tehran.
According to the AFC, 18 teams will participate in the Asian futsal meet from July 27 to August 5.
The matches are held in the 12,000-seater hall of Azadi Sports Complex, 10 km west of Tehran, and a field in Karaj, 35 km west of the
capital.
Here below come groups and fixtures:
* GROUP A: JAPAN, KUWAIT, MACAU, PALESTINE
** Monday, July 28
Japan vs Palestine (Azadi)
Kuwait vs Macau (Azadi)
** Tuesday, July 29
Kuwait vs Palestine (Azadi)
** Wednesday, July 30
Japan vs Macau (Azadi)
** Thursday, July 31
Japan vs Kuwait (Azadi)
Macau vs Palestine in Karaj (Azadi)
* GROUP B: SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN, HONG KONG, INDONESIA, BRUNEI
** Sunday, July 27
Taiwan vs Brunei (Azadi)
South Korea vs Hong Kong (Azadi)
** Monday, July 28
South Korea vs Indonesia (Karaj)
Taiwan vs Hong Kong (Karaj)
** Tuesday, JULY 29
Taiwan vs Indonesia (Karaj)
Hong Kong vs Brunei (Karaj)
** Wednesday, JULY 30
South Korea vs Brunei (Karaj)
Hong Kong vs Indonesia (Karaj)
** Thursday, JULY 31
South Korea vs Taiwan (Karaj)
** Friday, August 1
Indonesia vs Brunei (Karaj)
* GROUP C: IRAN, CHINA, KYRGYZSTAN, LEBANON
** Sunday, July 27
Iran vs Lebanon (Azadi)
** Tuesday, July 29
China vs Kyrgyzstan (Azadi)
** Wednesday, July 30
China vs Lebanon (Azadi)
** Thursday, July 31
Iran vs Kyrgyzstan (Azadi)
** Friday, August 1
Kyrgyzstan vs Lebanon (Azadi)
Iran vs China (Azadi)
* GROUP D: THAILAND, TURKMENISTAN, IRAQ, MALAYSIA, UZBEKISTAN
** Monday, July 28
Thailand vs Iraq (Azadi)
Turkmenistan vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
** Tuesday, July 29
Thailand vs Malaysia (Azadi)
Turkmenistan vs Iraq (Azadi)
** Wednesday, July 30
Turkmenistan vs Malaysia (Azadi)
Iraq vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
** Thursday, July 31
Thailand vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
Iraq vs Malaysia (Azadi)
** Friday, August 1
Malaysia vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
Thailand vs Turkmenistan (Azadi)
** Sunday, August 3, Quarterfinals, Azadi Hall
(1) Group C leader vs Group D 2nd-placed team
(2) Group D leader vs Group C 2nd-placed team
(3) Group A leader vs Group B 2nd-placed team
(4) Group B leader vs Group A 2nd-placed team
** Monday, August 4, Semifinals, Azadi Hall
(5) Winner of (1) vs winner of (4)
(6) Winner of (2) vs winner of (3)
The final matches are held in the 12,000-seater hall of Azadi
Sports Complex on August 5. |
