Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Chengdu: Coach Victor Garcia insists Nagoya Oceans are targeting a second AFC Futsal Club Championship title in China this month ahead of Monday’s Group A opener against Lokomotiv Tashkent.
Nagoya are the most experienced side in the history of the AFC Futsal Club Championship having participated in all four editions of the tournament and winning the 2011 title. However, in the two subsequent continental competitions, they have disappointingly crashed out at the semi-finals stage.
But ahead of Monday’s meeting with Tashkent at Shuangliu Sports Center, Garcia is eyeing a return to winning ways, particularly after Japan claimed a third AFC Futsal Championship earlier this year.
“With three national team players in our team who make up the spine of our team, the confidence of our team is high for this tournament,” said Nagoya coach Garcia.
“For sure our objective is to win this competition, but our goal is to take it step-by-step: so first we want to win our first game, then come first in the group, and then we’ll see.
“Last year we were eliminated at the semi-final stage, so we really want to make at least the final this year and change our history of the last two tournaments.”
Lokomotiv Tashkent are newcomers to the tournament after qualifying for their maiden continental championship by dint of winning the 2014 Uzbekistan Futsal League and coach Akhadjon Yusupov is excited by the prospect.
“This is our first time in this competition and I am very glad to be part of these eight teams in this tournament, which is the most respected futsal tournament in Asia,” said Tashkent coach Yusupov.
“Although our training camp was in Uzbekistan and we had no international games, we played a friendly against [2012 AFC Futsal Club Championship finalists] Ardus Tashkent, so I hope we are ready for the tournament.”
Also at Shuangliu Sports Center on Monday, 2013 semi-finalists Shenzhen Nanling Tielang face Vic Vipers of Australia.
Last year in Japan, Shenzhen lost 5-2 in the semi-finals to eventual champions Chonburi Bluewave before suffering a 6-4 defeat by Nagoya in the third place play-off.
“This is only our second experience of the AFC Futsal Club Championship, so if we can match our fourth place in Nagoya last year, that would be great – that’s our aim,” said Shenzhen coach Adil Amarante.
“Our group is really tough, though. We don’t know too much about Lokomotiv Tashkent and Vic Vipers but we know both sides will have physically strong players.
“And, of course, Nagoya Oceans we know from last year are a very skillful side.”
Vic Vipers, meanwhile, are somewhat of an unknown proposition as the side are making their debut in the tournament, although the Australian F-League champions are keen to make their mark.
“We want to win as many games as we can, but we understand it’s going to be very difficult with the tough teams involved. We’ll take it game by game and re-assess from there,” said Vic Vipers coach Sam Mlynarz.
“We’ve been preparing our players for the last two weeks since our domestic league ended by watching videos, working on tactics, and conditioning training.
“We’ve seen some footage of Nagoya but we don’t know much about Lokomotiv and Shenzhen. However, we know that they are the champions of their respective countries, so we respect them.”