Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: Defending champions Nagoya Ocean will have to fight hard to retain the title they won last year in Qatar by defeating Iran’s Shahid Monsouri 3-2 in the extra time in one of the memorable finals in the history of Asian club futsal, according to Ocean’s Portuguese coach Jose Amarante.
The Japanese championship and cup winner coach is of the opinion that club futsal is growing faster in the continent and the standard has been raised with each succeeding competition.
“This year it will be definitely more difficult than last year, you can see the futsal league growing in other Asian countries and few of them has raised their game immensely,” he said.
Nagoya Oceans is in Group B alongside with Lebanon’s All Sports SC, Thailand’s GH Bank and West Zone qualifiers winner Ardus of Uzbekistan whom they play in the first match on July 1 followed by subsequent matches against GH Bank and All Sports SC.
“I must admit that the training had not been ideal with few AFC Futsal Championship playing Japanese stars joining the camp late and having fatigue concern.
“But this will not deter our motivation to win and successfully defend our tile. We have a challenge and I am confident my players will do their best to keep the title within the club,” he quipped.
The Japanese futsal giant recorded 61 points from 27 matches with star player Morioka Kaoru being top scorer with 34 goals in the F.league (Japan’s domestic league championship).