Courtesy: The Malay Mail

Futsal/AFC Championship Qualifiers: Vietnam, the crucial challenge

By GHAZ RAMLI

April 18

AS futsal creeps on to the Malaysian football scene, there is no record about how the game reached our shores.

However, looking at the sport’s current boom, it may have been in the late 90s when the game reached Malaysia.

We back this assumption on our current skipper Mohd Saiful Md Noor and goalkeeper Zaidi Ramli, the two players who have international experience and are still on the national side.

Both Saiful and Zaidi have been wearing the national colours since 2000 competing in tournaments throughout the region.

Tomorrow, the two will have to inspire the young side who will take on Vietnam in the Group A opening tie at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship at the Sukpa Futsal Court in Kuantan.

“We are lucky to have Zaidi covering the goal area but the pressure of bigger and faster players might get to them during the match, which is when Zaidi and I have to keep our composure,” said Saiful, 30, an officer with the Alor Star Municipal Council (MBAS).

“I picked up the sport seven years ago back home in Alor Star but only started playing seriously a year later,” said Saiful who will be the key player for head coach P. Balakrishnan.

With the recently concluded National Futsal League, which helped to pick the players for the Qualifiers, Malaysia will be fielding mostly players who have only played in local leagues.

“Although we have seasoned players, it is crucial we win the first match but we expect difficulty against other teams especially Turkmenistan,” said Balakrishnan.

Balakrishnan is, however, confident Malaysia will be able to come out victorious against Maldives and Cambodia, the other two teams in Group A eyeing the two spots in the AFC Futsal Championship in Uzbekistan from May 21-28.

“Luckily we have the home advantage which might help the players keep their cool,” added Balakrishnan.



Courtesy: The Malay Mail


Futsal/AFC Championship Qualifiers: We can take them on, says Saiful

April 19

NATIONAL futsal captain Mohd Saiful Md Noor believes Malaysia will be able to take on Vietnam and Cambodia after watching the teams end their opening tie 4-4 at the AFC Futsal Championship Qualifiers in Sukpa, Kuantan, yesterday.

“They seem strong but I believe we will be able to take them on,” said Saiful, 30.

Malaysia will be playing Vietnam in their opening tie today.

Besides Vietnam and Cambodia, Malaysia will also be playing Turkmenistan and Maldives in Group A for a place in the second round.

Only two teams for this qualifier will play in the AFC championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 21-28.

“The players have been improving since the last tournament in Iran although as usual, there is a certain sense of apprehension at the start of any tournament,” said head coach P. Balakrishnan.

“The team must work hard from the start because in Futsal, hesitation can be costly.”

Malaysia play Maldives on April 20, Cambodia April 21 and Turkmenistan April 22.

The Malaysians have improved since losing 0-10 to Shensa and 1-6 to the Japanese national team last month in friendlies played in Iran.

In the four friendlies played up to last week, they beat Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) 9-0 in their first game, won 12-2 over the Armed Forces, edged Penang 6-5 in their third friendly and then a 6-2 win over Alor Star Municipal Council (MBAS) in the final game.



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