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The AFC.comFonseca hints at continuingSunday, 27 May 2012Dubai: Kuwait coach Luis Fonseca has hinted that a good run in the ongoing AFC Futsal Championship and a berth in this November’s FIFA Futsal World Cup may lure him to extend his stay in Kuwait as the head coach of the Kuwait national futsal team.
Kuwait have been clinical throughout this tournament, conceding four goals and scoring 15 in three matches featuring formidable opponents in the ranks of Uzbekistan, China and Indonesia.
They topped Group D and possibly avoiding 10-time champions Iran depending on the match between Iran and Australia this evening.
“My contract expires after this tournament. I had never been to Kuwait before and never handled national team before but once I started working with these players I found that they have immense talents,” Cilleros, who have coached seven top-flight Spanish futsal clubs, told www.the-afc.com.
The team of Fonseca joined Kuwait in February especially for these finals where they have already been tagged as the ‘dark horse’ of the tournament by some local journalists here in Dubai.
“The commitments from the players have been amazing, they give you more than what you want from them,” he said. “Whether I continue or not that is not in my hand at all, the Kuwait FA should consider this. At the moment, my mind is targeting only till the quarterfinal against whoever Iran or Australia- hopefully Australia, and after then we will see,” he quipped.
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The AFC.comKuwait defeat is the worst: GuilhermeSunday, 27 May 2012Dubai: China coach Guilherme Carvalho Franco Da Silveira has termed China’s performance against Kuwait in their AFC Futsal Championship’s 5-0 loss as the worst day for him as a China manager.
The Brazilian has been working with the Chinese national team from last five years and has admitted that they were totally outplayed by a brilliant Kuwait side, who deserved win.
“This is very sad moment, we are in fact a good team and a one-off bad day ruined our campaign,” the Brazilian, whose contract with the Chinese FA is running out this December, told www.the-afc.com .
“In my tenure here, we had some brilliant tournaments, we played in the World Cup and we won East Zone qualifiers. Even ten days ago we sealed an emphatic victory over Japan and we were scoring goals against countries like Romania and Iran.
“But this is football, one bad day at your office and you are off. We were fresh and well prepared and yesterday’s match against Uzbekistan was an unlucky affair for us as we’re brilliant. Today was a different ball game, we were clueless against a Kuwait side which is handled by a very good coach and his staff,” he said.
Guilherme wants to stay in China but he is uncertain about his future. “If given chance, I will definitely work till my contract expires and beyond that who knows, I like it there in China and the players and Chinese futsal so the door is open for the clubs and even country in future,” he said.
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The AFC.comNot every night jokes KnightSunday, 27 May 2012Dubai: Australia coach Steven Knight was in good spirits despite seeing his side given a futsal masterclass by the ten-time AFC Futsal Championship winners as Iran confirmed their status as Group D winners with a 9-0 hammering of the Futsalroos.
With both sides already assured of the place in the quarter-finals all that needed to be settled at the Al Wasl Indoor Stadium was who finished first and second in the standings.
The imperious Iranians dominated the match from start to finish taking their goals for tally to 31 while ensuring that the only goal they conceded in all three group stage matches was Seo Dae-yun’s strike for Korea Republic in Iran’s 14-1 win.
“They are a wonderful team, very professional and very well organised and I could watch a game like that every night…although I wouldn’t want to play them every night,” Knight said at the post-match press conference.
Despite a defeat that could easily been into double figures had it not been for some heroic keeping from Angelo Konstantinou, Knight said he was delighted with the performance of his team in Dubai, where the amateur Futsalroos have recorded impressive wins over Qatar (3-1) and Korea Republic (6-0).
“Iran are obviously the clear favourites for the tournament and to finish second in a group that contains Iran is something we can all be proud of, said the Australian, who will now prepare his side for a quarter-final showdown with surprise Group D winners Kuwait on Monday, with the team that emerges victorious booking their place at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup taking place in Thailand in November.
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The AFC.comThais still taking it too easy warns coachMonday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Thailand may have progressed to the quarter-finals with a 100% but their head coach Victor Hermans has voiced concerns that the players are still not adopting the right big mentality.
After victories over Kyrgyzstan (2-0) and Turkmenistan (5-1) Thailand had already sealed their place in the last eight but they were up against a UAE side that needed to get a positive result to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout phase in their tournament debut alive.
Abdul Karim Jamil gave the hosts the perfect start when he put the UAE one up in the first minute but goals from Apiwat Chaemcharoen, Jirawat Sornwichian, Kritsada Wongkaeo and Suphawut Thueanklang put the Thais firmly in control of the game before Abdul Karim Jamil scored a second for the UAE in the dying seconds.
"We had the same problem as we did yesterday [against Turkmenistan] and that was that the players are too relaxed," Hermans said at the post-match press conference.
"With all due respect to the UAE this was a game that we should control from beginning to end and this is something that we have to work on for all the big games that are coming up.
"The players must understand that there will be games that they must take one or two steps."
The Dutchman knew exactly what to expect from the UAE having coached Malta against them but admitted his surprise at seeing a much-changed side compete during their AFC Futsal Championship debut.
"Last year when I was coach of Malta we played against the UAE in a four-team tournament which they one," he recalled.
"Their coach told me that they had six key players that weren't in the squad in this tournament due to personal commitments and other reasons and this would make it difficult for any team.
"I knew that the UAE are a strong physical side and that players should go one-on-one and they should let the ball do the work but some of our guys are just interested in the action."
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
