Courtesy: The AFC.com


Hotshot Henmi named MVP

Friday, 01 June 2012

Dubai: With a goal-a-game ratio and a series of standout performances as Japan claimed top honours in the AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 has earned Rafael Henmi the Abdullah Al Dabal Award given to the tournament's MVP.

The 20-year-old, who was part of Nagoya Oceans' 2011 AFC Futsal Club Championship-winning squad, started the competition in emphatic fashion when he confidently dispatched a free-kick in the dying seconds of Japan's opening match to give the eventual champions a hard-fought 3-2 win over Lebanon.

Henmi followed up his match-winning strike with a goal against Tajikistan, a double against Chinese Taipei; the winner in the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Kyrgyzstan and the third in the semi-final defeat of Australia before maintaining his record of scoring in every game with Japan's fifth in the final as Japan outclassed Thailand 6-1 to win the AFC Futsal Championship for the second time.

"I am very, very, very happy to win the championship trophy and have this gold medal and I would have been content with just the title but this MVP award is a real bonus which was only possible because of the help of my colleagues," Henmi told www.the-afc.com after receiving the prestigious individual accolade from AFC Futsal Committee Chairman Richard Lai.

"This is my second medal after winning with Nagoya in the club championship and I have no words to express my feelings.

"In Thailand we will play as Asian champions. We must continue to work hard. Our team unity and team spirit were the key here and I hope this will continue at the World Cup."

Henmi become only the second Japanese player to be name MVP following Kenichiro Kogure back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2006 and Japan coach Miguel Rodrigo believes that the prodigiously talented youngster is exactly the type of player Asian nations should aspire to produce.

"He deserved to win the MVP and he is the archetypal futsal player that plays futsal with joy," said the Spaniard.

"Scoring a goal in every game is not easy and it's something that only big players can do.

"Asia needs to start producing players like him who start at an early age and are not football players that switch to futsal later in their careers."




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Superstar Shamsaee scoops top scorer award

Friday, 01 June 2012

Dubai: Asian futsal icon Vahid Shamsaee has won the AFC Futsal Championship Top Scorer award for the eighth time in his illustrious career after goal assists saw him get the nod ahead of team-mate Ali Hassanzadeh, Thailand’s Suphawut Thueanklang and tournament MVP Rafael Henmi.

Shamsaee struck in the dying seconds of Iran’s 4-0 win over Australia in the third-place playoff and with Hassanzadeh failing to find the target against the Futsalroos and Suphawut doing likewise as the Thais crashed to a 6-1 defeat to Japan in the final, in which Henmi got on the scoresheet, all four players ended their respective campaigns with seven goals.

Consequently, the number of assists were taken into account and with Shamsaee setting up six goals the Iran skipper, who first won the top scorer prize in 2001 with a record 31 goals, took the prize, which he received from AFC Vice President and President of the UAE Football Association Yousef Al Serkal.

Shamsaee had previously taken to the winner’s podium to collect the Fair Play award on behalf of Iran.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Jilong congratulates Japan on second title

Friday, 01 June 2012

Dubai: AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong congratulated Japan after being crowned the new kings of Asian futsal following their sweeping 6-1 victory over Thailand in the AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 final.

Speaking to www.the-afc.com after the final at the Wasl Indoor Stadium Jilong, pictured presenting the trophy to Japan skipper Yusuke Komiyama, said that East Asians' victory shows overall improvement of the game in the continent

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Japan for regaining the title they last won in 2006," he said.

“Iran and Japan have been a dominant force in Asian futsal over the years but teams like Thailand, Kuwait and Australia have proved that they are capable of turning the tables.

“I would also like to congratulate all the five teams – Thailand, Japan, Iran, Australia and Kuwait - who have qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand. I hope they make Asia proud at the world level.”

Jilong also thanked the UAE Football Association for hosting the premier futsal competition in Dubai.

“It was one of the best organised futsal competitions I have ever seen in Asia. All the credit goes to the Local Organising Committee for their efforts in making this a success.”




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