Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Japan star Yusuke Komiyama sent out an ominous warning ahead of their 2012 AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final clash with Kyrgyzstan, stating that the East Asian powerhouse is building up momentum as the competition progresses.
A hard-fought opening fixture against Lebanon – which ended with a narrow 3-2 victory thanks to Rafael Henmi's last-gasp winner – was followed by back-to-back 6-1 triumphs over Tajikistan and Chinese Taipei as the 2006 AFC Futsal Championship champions took top spot in Group B with a 100% record.
But Komiyama insists that futsal fans have yet to see the best of Japan and they will move up the gears as the tournament enters the all-important knockout phase.
"We are playing well but not perfect yet and we are taking each game match-by-match and I am sure we will continue to improve as the tournament progresses," Komiyama told www.the-afc.com following Japan's victory over Chinese Taipei.
Komiyama netted his 14th AFC Futsal Championship goal in Sunday's match against the East Asians but it was his strike in the match against Tajikistan a day earlier that hit the headlines as the 32-year-old, who plays for two-time All Japan Championship winners Badral Urayasu, set the tournament record of 6.4 seconds when he received possession on the right side of the area after Alisher Ulmasov was unable to cut out the cross and lashed the ball past Shukhrat Bibudov to eclipse the previous mark of 32 seconds set by Majid Latifi in the Iran versus Malaysia match at the 2007 tournament.
"When I scored I didn't know that it was the record and after being selected for doping control I only knew about it when my team-mates told me back at the hotel," he revealed.
"But of course I am very happy and honoured to make my mark in the history of Asian futsal."
Komiyama and his team-mates will be looking to make their mark on the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final against Kyrgyzstan, which kicks-off on Tuesday at 1830 UAE time and will be streamed live on www.the-afc.com.