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IRNA - Iran's Football
Federation (IFF) Saturday announced the spectators may watch the matches of
the 5th Asian Futsal Championships in Tehran and Karaj for free.
The 10-day futsal competitions start Sunday, July 27.
Eighteen teams that had participated in the Asian futsal event reduced to 16
as Turkmenistan and Brunei pulled out.
On July 25, Iran's manager Mohammad-Hassan Ansarifard said his team is
determined to win the 5th Asian futsal crown.
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."
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.
The matches are held in the 12,000-seater hall of Azadi Sports Complex, 10
km west of Tehran, and Enqelab Hall 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 (Azadi)
* GROUP B: SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN, HONG KONG, INDONESIA
** Sunday, July 27
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)
** Wednesday, JULY 30
Hong Kong vs Indonesia (Karaj)
** Thursday, JULY 31
South Korea vs Taiwan (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, IRAQ, MALAYSIA, UZBEKISTAN
** Monday, July 28
Thailand vs Iraq (Azadi)
** Tuesday, July 29
Thailand vs Malaysia (Azadi)
** Wednesday, July 30
Iraq vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
** Thursday, July 31
Thailand vs Uzbekistan (Azadi)
Iraq vs Malaysia (Azadi)
** Friday, August 1
Malaysia vs Uzbekistan (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. |
