Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Australia finished runners-up in the AFC Dream Asia Cerebral Palsy Tournament 2012 after beating Jordan 4-0 on Friday.
Australia collected 12 points while Jordan finished at the bottom of the table in the six-nation inaugural competition for people with disability organised by the AFC which took place from 1 to 7 April, 2012.
The Pararoos’ head coach Paul Brown has hailed the organisers for the tournament and planned to come back in the next edition.
“The tournament has been organised in a great fashion, the service at all levels, especially the football field, have been of the highest standards,” he said.
“We want and shall return to the next tournament that will be held, and I will speak of this upon our return to Australia and promote the UAE to our officials.”
A local tournament will be held in Australia after three days and Brown stated that they would also be joining another tournament in two weeks in the Ukraine.
“What the social responsibility committee presented was fantastic, although they need some time to see any results,” he added.
“Pushing forward with this tournament and establishing it as a reoccurring event is essential to improving the game.”
The Jordanians’ coach Yousef Al Masri has said he is very thankful and delighted with how the tournament has gone.
“I thank our brothers in the Emirates for their gracious hospitality, kindness, generosity and making us feel highly welcome to this tournament,” he said.
“The tournament itself was a great success on all scales. I would also like to give special thanks to the AFC for their unfading support to us, for we were dazzled by the tournament and we were certainly not ready for it.”
“It would be best to arrange a tournament involving the level of playing in western Asian nations for more balance between teams,” he suggested.