Courtesy: Bernama


Futsal: It Will Be A Learning Curve, Says Malaysian Coach


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- A valuable learning curve while competing with the best in international futsal.

This will probably be the catchphrase of the Malaysian futsal squad when it competes in the prestigious KL World 5'S Futsal at Stadium Negara, between tomorrow and Feb 3.

Organised by Asia's No: 1 sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports, the world's most lucrative futsal tournament offers USD150,000 in prize money.

Regardless of a win or loss, Malaysia's futsal coach P. Balakrishnan said his players would take each match as a learning platform.

He believes the international event would be a boon to his players, in more ways than one, proving to be a valuable learning curve for them.

"Our squad will give its all, when approaching the four group matches as a platform to gain valuable learning experience. If we want to be the best, we must play against the better opponent.

"This tournament creates a golden opportunity of playing and rubbing shoulders with the world's best players," Balakrishnan said here, today.

In Tuesday's opening match, Malaysia will face Indonesia at 7pm, while the other matches are Indonesia vs Australia (Group A, 10am), China vs Brazil (Group B,3pm), Argentina vs England (Group A, 5pm) and Thailand vs Holland (Group B, 9pm).

In Group B are Brazil, Holland, Iran, China and Thailand.

At the Korat SEA Games last month, Malaysia won the silver.

Meanwhile, defending champion Argentina is "dead serious" about retaining its title.

In 2003, it beat arch-rival Brazil in the final of the first edition of the KL World Futsal 5'S at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

"Our players have represented futsal clubs in Argentina and Italy. We are dead serious about defending our title," team manager Gustavo Roberto Lorenzo told a press conference after a meeting of managers of the 10 teams today.

He is confident of meeting Brazil in the final.

The KL World 5's will be broadcast to over 310 million viewers across Asia on ESPN STAR Sports channels.

The event will broadcast over 100 hours of coverage, comprising 30 telecast hours, including 20 hours of live programming - translating into extensive media exposure for Malaysia.

GROUPS:

GROUP A: Argentina, England, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia

GROUP B: Brazil, Holland, Iran, China, Thailand


Tomorrow's Opening Matches At Stadium Negara:

1. Indonesia versus Australia, Group A, 10am

2. China vs Brazil, Group B, 3pm

3. Argentina vs England, Group A, 5pm

4. Malaysia vs Indonesia, Group A, 7pm

5. Thailand vs Holland, Group B, 9pm

MALAYSIA TEAM:

Team Officials
Team Manager: Mohd Hamiddin Amin
Coach: P. Balakrishnan
Assistant Coach: Hairi Maizal Marzuki

Players
Yusoff Muhamad Fadhil
Mohd Muizzudin Haris
Zainal Addie Azuan
Ramli Zamli
Devander Supramaniam
Salim Zulkarnain
Feroz Mohamad Abd Karim
Karnim Mohd Fadzil
Abd Rahim Ahmad Rizal
Abd Gaffar Mohd Faizal
Manjur Ahmad Mohd Hishamudin
Sarmin Ahmad Hanif
Abd Aziz Mohd Rozali
Satmi Mior Zaki
Zainudin Zamburi
Mohamad Safar
Narayanan Saravanan Kumar
Mohd Sani Azrizal
Zabidi Mohd Firdaus
Razali Firdaus





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