Courtesy:
Gulf News‘We still have a long, long way to go'Improvements at grass roots level key — officialby
Alaric GomesMay 29, 2012Dubai: The UAE's assistant coach has claimed the national side still has a long, long way to go before they can be considered to be among the top futsal nations on the continent.
Mohammad Al Marzouqi said improvements at the grass roots level would be vital in the development of the sport in the country, which failed to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
"The big benefit for us is that we know where we stand in futsal after participating in this tournament for the first time," Al Marzouqi told the media after the UAE bowed out of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship following two losses in three games in Group A.
We have a long, long way to go still," Al Marzouqi said.
"Our first thing is to sit down with the technical committee and with the UAE Football Association and see what we have learnt from this competition… But as far as the growth of the game is concerned, we need to see that there are leagues and local competitions organised from the younger groups."
Courtesy:
Gulf NewsIran favourites at AFC Futsal ChampionshipJapan have shown potential to challenge defending championsby
Alaric GomesMay 29, 2012Dubai: Defending and ten-time champions Iran look the strongest on paper and in the best of form for a record eleventh crown as the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship enters the knock-out stages today.
Iran have been way ahead of the rest of the teams involved in this championship, with their three emphatic wins in Group C telling their own tale.
They started off with a 14-1 thrashing of South Korea, then hammered Qatar 8-0 in their second encounter, before pulverising a resolute Australia 9-0. Iran have won all the editions of the AFC Futsal Championship, except one that was claimed by Japan in 2006.
In the quarter-finals, Iran will take on Uzbekistan in a repeat of the 2010 final that was convincingly won by the Iranians 8-3.
Coming closest to challenging them could be Japan, who have been showing a marked improvement in their performances here.
Japan will take on Kyrgyzstan in their quarter-final clash today and then await the winner of the second quarter-final between Australia and Kuwait. Japan's Spanish coach Miguel Rodrigo is confident as he set his sights on a place in the 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup in Bangkok later this year.
FixturesQuarter-finals on Tuesday:
At Al Wasl Club:
(3.30 pm) Thailand vs Lebanon
(6.30 pm) Japan vs Kyrgyzstan
At Al Shabab Club:
(3.30 pm) Iran vs Uzbekistan
(6.30 pm) Kuwait vs Australia
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
