Courtesy: The AFC.com


Stage set for Futsal first

ESFAHAN – The draw for the inaugural edition of the AFC Futsal Club Championship, which will take place at Pirouzi Stadium from July 4 to 12, was held in Esfahan on Wednesday.

The historic draw was overseen by AFC Futsal Committee member Abbas Torabian and held before a packed auditorium at the Aseman Hotel, which included Abarghooii Nejad, the President of the Esfahan Football Federation, Mr. Mossadeghian, Vice President of the Physical Education Board and Mr. Shiran, from Esfahan Province’s Physical Education Board.

The ten participating teams were divided into two groups of five with the winners and runners-up meeting to decide which club will write their name in Asian Futsal history as the first-ever club champions.

Hosts Foolad Mahan, who will be spearheaded by Iran Futsal legend and the sport’s leading international goal scorer Vahid Shamsaee, are in Group A and can expect stiff competition from 2007 and 2008 F.League champions Nagoya Oceans, Iraq’s Nawrouz and the Central Asian duo of Uzbek outfit Stroitel Zarafshan and AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek from Kyrgyzstan.

Group B consists of Thai champions Port Authority, New South Wales Thunder, who defeated ACT Cobras 2-1 to win the 2009 Australian National Futsal Championship, Lebanon’s Pro Café, Chinese hopeful’s Wuhan Dilang and Al Sadd from Qatar.


2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship draw:

Group A
Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)
Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
Nawrouz (IRQ)

Group B
Port Authority (THA)
Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
Pro’s Café (LIB)
Al Sadd (QAT)


2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship match schedule:

4 July
11.30 Al Sadd (QAT) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
14.00 Nawrouz (IRQ) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
16.30 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
19.00 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)

5 July
11.30 Al Sadd (QAT) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
14.00 Nawrouz (IRQ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
16.30 Pro’s Café (LIB) v Port Authority (THA)
19.00 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

6 July
11.30 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
14.00 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
16.30 Port Authority (THA) v Al Sadd (QAT)
19.00 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)

8 July
11.30 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Al Sadd (QAT)
14.00 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)
16.30 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Port Authority (THA)
19.00 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

9 July
11.30 Pro’s Café (LIB) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
14.00 Port Authority (THA) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
16.30 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
19.00 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)

11 July
16.30 Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
19.00 Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B

12 July
16.30 Third-place play-off
19.00 Final

All matches to be played at the Pirouzi Stadium, Esfahan. All kick-off times local.








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