Courtesy: The AFC.com


Oceans open against Ardus

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Kuwait City: Nagoya Oceans begin the defence of their AFC Futsal Club Championship title against Ardus of Uzbekistan when the 2012 edition of the tournament kicks-off on July 1.

The Oceans, who won last year's competition by defeating Iran's Shahid Mansouri 3-2 after extra-time in the final in Qatar, and Ardus were pooled in Group B of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship at the official draw for the event, which took place in Kuwait City on Thursday.

Completing the Group B line up are Lebanese champions All Sports, who qualified directly to the finals in Kuwait courtesy of a third-place finish from their compatriots Al Sadaka at the last tournament, and Thailand side GH Bank RBAC, who are renewing acquaintances with Ardus after playing at a 4-4 draw with the Uzbeks in the group stage of the 2011 edition in Doha.

Host club Yarmouk are in Group A and will open their campaign against Qatar's Al Rayyan, while Sanye Giti Pasand, who are looking to become the third consecutive Iranian club to reach the final following last year's runners-up Shahid and inaugural champions Foolad Mahan, face Vietnam champions Thai Son Nam in their tournament curtain raiser.

The winners of Group A will face the runners-up in Group B and vice-versa with the teams that emerge victorious from the July 5 crossover semi-finals battling it out the following day to determine the champions of the third AFC Futsal Club Championship.


Group A - Al Qadsia Hall
Yarmouk (KUW)
Sanye Giti Pasand (IRN)
Thai Son Nam (VIE)
Al Rayyan (QAT)


Group B - Al Arabi Hall
Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
All Sports (LIB)
GH Bank RBAC (THA)
Ardus (UZB)




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