Courtesy: UEFA.com


Kairat Almaty

Kairat Almaty are undoubtedly the dominant force in Kazakh futsal having won six league titles and five national cups in a row.

President's backing
Previously known as Kaynur, they took their current name in 2001 in honour of businessman Kairat Orazbekov, who helped found the club and is now their president. His finances are behind their huge success, the biggest of which came last season in the UEFA Futsal Cup. Their debut in 2004/05 was creditable, although comfortable wins against MNK Split and KMF Skopje were not enough to prevent a first qualifying round exit after losing 5-4 to FC Dorozhnik Minsk. In that game Kairat came back from 3-1 behind to lead, only for Choco to equalise with an own goal with a minute to go after which Vasili Varnin struck a dramatic winner.

Semi-final run
The next season, though, Kairat strolled through the opening stage, claiming three comfortable victories, including one against Dorozhnik. They then began the second qualifying round with a 3-3 draw against Group A hosts SL Benfica thanks to two second-half Yuriy Butrin goals. Though they then lost 5-2 to Boomerang Interviú, a 5-1 defeat of Belgium's Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz allowed Kairat to progress ahead of 2003/04 finalists Benfica. MFK Dinamo Moskva proved a step too far in the semi-finals, winning 3-0 in Almaty and 5-2 at home, but Kairat's achievement, Kazakhstan's best in any UEFA competition, drew widespread attention. The tie was televised nationally and the home leg was moved to the 4,000-capacity Baluan Sholak Sport Palace, proving an instant sell-out. Pipped by ElPozo Murcia FS in lthe 2006/07 Elite round, they reached the final four in 2007/08 but lost to MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg and MFK Dinamo Moskva. They have returned this term, having won the 2007/08 league title with an 11-4 play-off win against Aktobe BTA after they finished level on points. And this season they have already competed a fifth straight domestic double.

Key players
Not only do Kairat boast local stars like Denis Samokhvalov, but also Brazilians Rafael, Pica Pau and 2008 signing Camara Sobral, who joined along with Italian international Carlos Mantovanelli.

Coach: João Carlos Barbosa

Date of Birth: 1 February 1965
Nationality: Brazilian
Playing career: Joinville EC, Tigre FC, Embraco, FC Ngrede, GE América
Coaching career: Criciúma EC, GE América, FC UPF, FC UCS, Malwee Futsal (assistant), UD Guadalajara FS, Kairat Almaty

João Carlos Barbosa has spent most of his futsal playing and coaching career in his native Brazil but after a spell in Spain is aiming for honours with Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan.

Barbosa's playing career was spent mostly at state level, most notably winning the Santa Catarina championship with Embraco. After retiring from playing, he took up coaching with Criciúma EC and led them to the Santa Catarina championship in 1997. After a spell at GE América, for who he had also played, he coached university teams UPF and US before being appointed to assist Fernando Feretti at Brazilian giants Malwee Futsal in 2004.

The following year Barbosa departed for Europe and UD Guadalajara FS, who he led to promotion in 2005/06 and kept in the top flight for the following two seasons. Last August he moved on to replace compatriot Alecio at Kairat and emulated his feat of leading them to the UEFA Futsal Cup final four. Barbosa told uefa.com: "We have an ambition to win every tournament we play in." Club president Kairat Orazbekov added: "We are changing between generations and he has to find young and good players."








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