Courtesy: The AFC.com


Amarante: There’s a long way to go

Monday, 27 June 2011

Doha: Nagoya Oceans boss Jose Amarante feels his side still have much to do if they are to win the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2011 as they prepare to face hosts Al Rayyan with top spot in Group A at stake.

The Japanese side have so far turned in two impressive performances to dispatch Zhejiang Dragon and Al Karkh but face their toughest test to date in the shape of the hosts at Al Rayyan Main Hall.

“We have just started the competition, there is a long way to the end, only two matches played but we must improve our level,” he said.

“There are several good teams like the Qatar team, the Lebanon team, the team from Iran, the Thai team too, they can all surprise us and are very strong opponents. We are playing well but we must improve.

“Every game has the same importance for us. We can reduce our effort in the match if we are intelligent with the ball. We won't spare any players, we will play to win.”

Al Rayyan boss Hassan Rhouila, on the other hand, could take the opportunity to use the full extent of his resources against the Japanese.

“Against Nagoya, we are facing one of the favourites for the trophy. It depends on the game, I may rest some players, I may use the full team,” he said.

“Our goalkeeper Badi Johar was injured against Zhejiang and I think I'm going to rest him. It depends on the game itself. We aimed to qualify and we made it. All the teams that qualify for the semi-finals will be able to win the trophy so I think maybe I'm going to rest my players, but it depends on the game itself.

“We don't have quality on the bench, our goalkeeper is injured so I'm not going to force him to play. I hope Hamed Kassab will recover to also play some part in the game. Mohammed Al Marri, he was the team captain but his performance was not so good but I'm going to try and get him in the game.”

Al Karkh will face Zhejiang in the other game at Al Gharafa Main Hall with little to play for other than pride after two defeats apiece.

“The circumstances for the third game will be much better as we will have more time to recover, we will play to win as we are now out of the tournament but we will try to win the last game,” said manager Saad Hussein Hadhal.

Zhejiang coach Shan Zhiping, meanwhile, is hoping for an improved display against the Iraqis.

“I think they are a strong opponent but we came here only to learn from our strong opponent so we will try our best and perform better than we did in the previous two games,” he said.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


We’ll rise to the occasion vows Bank boss

Monday, 27 June 2011

Doha: GH Bank RBAC boss Rakphol Sainetngam is confident his men will produce their best performance of the tournament with a place in the semi-finals of the AFC Club Futsal Championship 2011 on the line when they take on Group B winners Shahid Mansouri at Al Rayyan Main Hall.

The Thais drew their opening two games against Al Sadaka and Ardus but victory over the Iranian powerhouse – who have a perfect record so far – will see them into the last four.

“We've always enjoyed playing tough teams. We've always felt the boys rise to the occasion when they play teams of a higher quality because they tend to show up in these games,” he said.

“We'll tell the players to go out and play because we haven't done much of that. We need to show what we are capable of, we are one of the fastest teams in Asia and capable of playing any of the top sides. We love the challenge of playing tough opposition so we're looking forward to the game. It's all going to come down to the day.

“We take it a match at a time. Our chances are better than yesterday but three points (against Ardus) would have been even better. We need to really play well to qualify and we need to improve because we made quite a lot of individual mistakes.

“We need to see what needs to be done to win a game that will determine whether we go through to the next round or not. We need to work hard, that's the reality.”

Despite having already clinched top spot, coach Reza Lak promised there would be no let up from Shahid Mansouri.

“We will play the whole team as we want to keep our level. We don't need to rest players although I might decide to,” he said.

“I think the whole team will participate. The result will affect the whole group so we will try to give our all.”

Al Sadaka face Ardus in the other game at Al Gharafa Main Hall with both sides knowing their fate hinges on events elsewhere.

“We still have a chance, depending on the result of the other game and we will definitely try to win,” said Al Sadaka boss Hussein Dib.

“We are very good as a group, that's why we qualified for this tournament. We will try to improve. Maybe we are not that experienced but we are building a team for the future.

“I believe in all the players and they can do much better than this. I'm not disappointed but I believe the players can do better than this.”

Ardus boss Alexander Petrov was equally defiant over the Uzbeks' chances.

“I think we haven't lost our chance to qualify,” he said.

“We still have a chance but our chances depend on the other group game and I think if the Iranian team plays like they did against us, I think we will qualify.”




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Hobash: Al Rayyan honoured to be hosts

Monday, 27 June 2011

Doha: Mohammed Ali Hobash, the AFC Futsal Club Championship – Qatar 2011 Tournament Director and member of the board of hosts Al Rayyan expressed that the Doha club is ‘honoured’ to be hosting the second edition of the continental competition.

Speaking to www.the-afc.com prior to Al Rayyan’s 6-1 demolition of Zhejiang Dragon, which confirmed two-time Qatar Futsal League champions’ place in the semi-finals following the thrilling 6-5 win over Iraq’s Al Karkh, Hobash remarked:

"The tournament has evolved in a fantastic manner. Rayyan is one of the biggest clubs in Asia and it's our honour to host the leading clubs of the continent.

"Everyone at the club put in a lot of hard work and showed great patience while preparing for this big tournament. And we're being congratulated by all who have turned up for the event. That makes us all happy.”

The 2011 AFC Futsal Club Championship is the latest feather in the cap of the Qatari sports administration following the impressive running of the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year as well as the 2006 Asian Games.

And Hobash believes that Qatar’s organisational experience had inspired confidence that the indoor event would continue the successful trend even before the first match had kicked-off at the Al Rayyan Main Hall on Sunday.

"Even before the start of the tournament, the AFC and visiting club officials told me they had full confidence in us, the local organising committee,” he said.

“I think it has a lot to do with efforts made by all officials in Qatar sports, who have made major tournaments big successes. We feel very proud to hear those words."

Al Rayyan’s two Group A wins guaranteed their place in the last four and despite admitting the Qataris may not necessarily be tournament favourites Hobash believes his club has every chance of seeing AFC Futsal Club Championship silverware in the trophy cabinet alongside their two Qatar Futsal League titles and 2009 Ittihad Cup.

"We're sure the players will put up a strong showing in the tournament,” he said.

“Of course, every team enters a tournament with the single aim of winning the title.

“But we must agree that teams from Japan, Iran and Thailand have a rich futsal culture in their country. They're the favourites to win the title. But still Rayyan will turn in a fighting performance and try to go all the way."

Al Rayyan conclude their Group Stage campaign on Tuesday when they take on Japanese powerhouse Nagoya Oceans to determine whether the West or East Asians advance to the semi-finals as Group A winners.




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