Shriker Osaka aim to continue Japan’s proud tradition
Ho Chi Minh City: Despite featuring in their first-ever competition, Shriker Osaka Head Coach Kenichiro Kogure has warned his fellow Group C opponents to disregard their chances at their own peril, adding that history counts for nothing at this stage of the competition.
2017 AFC Futsal Club Championship: The Experts’ View
The 37-year-old, who as a player has won virtually every futsal competition on the continent, sent shockwaves in Japan when his side dispossessed Asia’s most successful club, Nagoya Oceans to claim the F.League, effectively ending the 2016 champions the opportunity to defend their continental title in Vietnam for the third time in their illustrious history.
“Defeating Nagoya was not easy; we changed the history of Japan. I believe the experience has built in us the mental resilience to do well here in Vietnam.
“Our aim is ensure that Japanese futsal continues to be among the best in Asia. This is not an easy group and tomorrow’s match is very important. I can assure you that our players will be giving their best against Shenzhen tomorrow, for the team and for Japan.”
Standing in their way in tomorrow’s Group C opener are China PR’s Shenzhen Nanling who are striving to rediscover their form that guided them to finish fourth, both in 2013 and 2014. Since then however, the Chinese side failed to progress past the group stage in 2015 and were absent altogether from the last edition.
Head Coach Barth Felix Rodrigues said: “From 2013, we have proven our quality. Every time we qualify, our aim is give our best. But we are hoping that this time we will produce our best-ever performances. We have been training for almost 50 days straight and we are confident of doing well against Shriker tomorrow.”
Perhaps the most dominant side in Group C, Giti Pasand Isfahan open their campaign against Shenzhen Nanling on Saturday. In the history of Asia’s premier club competition – all eight editions – Iranian clubs have reached the final on five occasions, with Giti Pasand Isfahan accounting for two appearances and clinching one of the three titles that have gone in favour of the Central Asian giants.
At the centre of Giti Pasand’s solitary triumph five years ago was current head coach Alireza Afzal. The 43-year-old, who masterminded his side’s 2-1 over Uzbek giants Ardus in the final in Kuwait City, returned to the club earlier this year and is eager to taste success once again.
"We don’t have much information on the other two teams. Most important for us now is to concentrate on ourselves. But make no mistake; I want to stay here until the last day of the competition. Minimally we want to reach the final and after that we can dream of the title,” said Afzal.
GROUP C FIXTURES
20 July 2017, 14:00
Shenzhen Nanling China v Japan Shriker Osaka
22 July 2017, 14:00
Giti Pasand Isfahan Iran v China Shenzhen Nanling
24 July 2017, 14:00
Shriker Osaka Japan v Iran Giti Pasand Isfahan
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com
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