Courtesy: The Peninsula

by RIZWAN REHMAT

Qatar keen to make an impression in futsal event

BANGKOK: In an event contested by giants like Iran, China and Uzbekistan, minnows Qatar are keen to make a positive impression in futsal (indoor football with five players in each team) at the First Asian Indoor Games being held here in the Thai capital.

Qatar, who are considered a weak side due to a lack of proper futsal infrastructure back home and their low ranking in Asia, play their opening match against Kyrgyzstan tomorrow with an emphasis on putting up a good show.

According to team coach, Mohammed Ali of Egypt his young Qatar team is in Bangkok to win hearts of the futsal loving public in Bangkok “with an impressive display against teams like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan before dreaming of a medal”.

Ali, who took over the reigns of the team in September this year, said that his team was eager to launch their campaign with a win despite lacking in experience against their senior rivals. He added his team was also very keen to learn as they play their matches in Bangkok.

“It is a learning curve for us. Playing in this event will be a good experience for us because all of Asia’s top teams are present in Bangkok. Both teams in our group – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – are ranked number four and eight respectively in Asia. Despite our team being inexperienced, we are hopeful of winning our first game against Kyrgyzstan,” Ali said confidently.

“We have been in training for about two months, which may not be enough at this level, but the players feel they are ready for the event. We played a series of five friendly matches in Doha before reaching Bangkok. The players are fit and we have no injury concerns,” Ali added. “Hopefully we will do well.”

“We are at a slight advantage in this tournament because our rivals play their first match before we do (on Thursday). We can watch them play and then formulate plans for our matches (November 11 and 12). This event will show us where we stand at the Asian level and where we go from here in the future,” Ali explained.

Qatar are one of eight teams participating in the week-long event after the late withdrawals of Iraq and the Philippines. Macau, Kuwait, China, Jordan, Iran and hosts Thailand are the other countries taking part in the futsal event besides Qatar, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Iran, China and Macau are in Group ‘A’ while Thailand and Kuwait are in Group ‘B’. Qatar are in Group ‘C’ along with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The quarter-finals of the futsal event will be played on November 15 while semi-finals have been slated for the next day. The final and play-offs take place on November 17.

Qatar are taking part in only three disciplines in this Games. Besides futsal, the other two are swimming and athletics with four contestants in each discipline.

Only nine events are being contested at the First Asian Indoor Games – Aerobics, Dance Sport, Extreme Sports (bicycle stunt flatland, bicycle stunt park, inline skate, skateboard, sports climbing), Futsal, Hoop Takraw, Athletics, Cycling, Muay (Thai boxing) and Swimming.

After directing his team through a strenuous training session, Qatar coach Ali concluded: “We have a good combination of youth and experience and I hope we can put un impressive display.”



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