Courtesy: Khaleej Times


UAE all set for AFC futsal

24 May 2012

Dubai will play host to yet another major event when the Asian Football Confederation Futsal Championship gets going at the indoor stadia of Al Shabab and Al Wasl clubs from Friday to June 1.

The first match between Japan and Lebanon begins at noon on Friday at Al Wasl Club.

The 16 teams for the event are in training at the Al Ahli and Al Nasr clubs this week.

A new playing surface, brought from South Korea, has been laid out at the venues which comes with world class specifications ensuring easier mobility and safety of players.

The AFC delegation arrived in Dubai last week to oversee the conduct of the competition and appreciated the preparations undertaken by the local organising committee, a media release stated.

Iran are the hot favourites to win yet another title.

The draws were conducted earlier this year in Dubai and as the hosts UAE have been placed in Group A along with Turkmenistan, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan.

Group B consists of Japan, Taiwan, Tajikistan and Lebanon; Group C is made up of Iran, Australia, Qatar and South Korea, while Group D comprises of Uzbekistan, Indonesia, China and Kuwait.

Action will begin at noon on Friday with Japan taking on Lebanon in Group B and Uzbekistan facing Kuwait in Group D at Al Wasl and Al Shabab respectively.

“I am overjoyed to see the utmost efforts being exerted during the last few weeks by all the members of the organising committees in ensuring the success of this competition,” stated Dr Ahmed Al Sharif, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council.

“The UAE sets a standard while hosting such competition and this partnership with the Sharjah Sports Council has further enhanced the status of this championship that is bound to get due mileage for the UAE,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kuwait was among the last teams to land at the Dubai International Airport where they were welcomed by working team members from the organising committee.

The South Korean team arrived in Dubai last week and have been going on with their final preparations for this competition with a couple of friendly matches against Lebanon and Tajikistan.

“We have been placed in one of the most competitive groups that include Australia, Qatar and Iran, one of the top favourites for the title. However, we are here to give a good account of our capability through our performances as we see the game making extreme progress in South Korea since the past few years,” noted coach Lee Chang-Hoon.

The AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 is being jointly organised by the Dubai Sports Council and Sharjah Sports Council under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

The four teams making it to the semi-finals of this competition will automatically qualify for the 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup to be staged in Bangkok in November.

SCHEDULE

> (May 25) Al Wasl Club: (12noon) Japan vs Lebanon; (14.30) Chinese Taipei vs Tajikistan.

Al Shabab Club: (12noon) Uzbekistan vs Kuwait; (14.30) Indonesia vs PR China; (16.05-16.45) Opening Ceremony. (18.00) UAE vs Turkmenistan; (20.30) Thailand vs Kyrgyzstan.

Al Shabab Club: (18.00) Australia vs Qatar; (20.30) IR Iran vs Korea Republic.

> (May 26) Al Wasl Club: (12noon) Lebanon vs Chinese Taipei; (14.30) Tajikistan vs Japan; (17.30) Turkmenistan vs Thailand; (20.00) Kyrgyzstan vs UAE.

Al Shabab Club: (12noon) Kuwait vs Indonesia; (14.30) PR China vs Uzbekistan; (17.30) Korea Republic vs Australia; (20.00) Qatar vs IR Iran.

> (May 27) Al Wasl Club: (12noon) Japan vs Chinese Taipei; (14.30) Uzbekistan vs Indonesia; (17.30) IR Iran vs Australia; (20.00) UAE vs Thailand.

Al Shabab Club: (12noon) Tajikistan vs Lebanon; (14.30) PR China vs Kuwait; (17.30) Qatar vs Korea Republic; (20.00) Kyrgyzstan vs Turkmenistan. groups

Group A: UAE, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan.

Group B: Japan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Lebanon.

Group C: Iran, Australia, Qatar, South Korea.

Group D: Uzbekistan, Indonesia, China, Kuwait.




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