5/21/2006
the-afc

TASHKENT: Iran’s quest for a record eighth AFC Futsal Championship title will be driven by a pack of youngsters, as the Asian futsal kingpins look to rebuild in strength for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

As the tournament gets underway today here in the picturesque capital of Uzbekistan, Iran is once again, as it has been for the last seven years, the team to beat in the 16-team event. But the going got tough for an ageing Team Melli in the last edition in Vietnam and they managed to cling on to their title only by a whisker, with determined opposition coming from eventual runners-up Japan and ASEAN powerhouse Thailand, who thoroughly exposed the champions’ weaknesses.

At the pre-tournament press conference, Iranian head of delegation Mohamed Deroudgar spoke about the power of youth. “This time we have a very young team,” said Deroudgar. “After the 2004 edition itself we decided to introduce young players and today we have three key players in the 18-20 age group. We also have highly experienced players like Vahid Shamsaee and Mohsin Zarei. It is a good mix.”

“We aim to defend our title and then prepare for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship.”

But first the Iranians, who are coached by Jurandir Dutra, need to finish on top of Group D against tough opposition, some of which is familiar from the last time round, like the Thais, who handed out to Team Melli their first ever draw in the history of the tournament since 1999.

If Iran are banking on a mix of old and new, then, Japan, who have played bridesmaids to them no less than four times in the finals, have stuck to the tried-and-tested. Japan’s head of delegation Kuniya Daini said: “We have come here to win the title and there are not many changes to our squad (from the one which played in Vietnam). We lost in the final four times in a row but this time our team has prepared well and we are confident that we will lift the title.”

Japan earned the distinction of becoming the first team to ever beat Iran in the AFC Futsal Championship last year in the group stage, which left the champions stunned and teetering on the brink before receiving a helping hand from their archrivals themselves who ousted Thailand in the knockout stage. Had Japan then drawn with Thailand, Iran would have been out of the tournament.

This time, Team Melli and Japan are on a collision course much earlier than the final if both play to form. The players to watch in coach Sapo’s list are Kenichiro Kogure and Takuya Suzumura, who are both capable of turning around a match singlehandedly.

The two ‘Stans’ – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – had signaled their coming of age in Vietnam after storming into the semifinals and Kyrgyzstan had come close to upsetting Japan before losing narrowly. Uzbekistan are favourites to advance to the last four this time, having been slotted in an easy group but Kyrgyzstan will have to see off the likes of Australia and Lebanon for a repeat of last year’s semifinal run.

Kyrgyzstan’s head of delegation Almaz Kadyrkulov said: “We have prepared for this tournament throughout the year and our minimum aim is to qualify for the semifinals.”

Uzbekistan coach Pavel Donchenko captured it in a nutshell: “Every team has a dream. I hope our dream will come true.”

Newcomers Australia impressed in the qualifiers and are in the most open group of the tournament in which, apart from Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Kuwait could also prove to be difficult customers.

Six matches will be played everyday from 12 noon to 2100 hours through May 21-24 in the single round robin league with the four top points earners advancing to the semifinals scheduled for May 26 (1600-2000 hours).

The third-fourth place playoff between the semifinal losers (1600-1800 hours) precedes the final (1800-2000 hours) on May 27.

Japan, Thailand and Australia will be in action on the opening day at the 3000-seater Yunusabad Sports Complex.