NSW Thunder ready for AFC Futsal Club Championships in Iran
NSW Thunder coach Jamie Amendolia has assembled 14-man squad ready to do battle against some of Asia?s best clubs.
The NSW Thunder trained for the first time on Monday at the Pirouzi Stadium and from reports really liked the facilities and the world class venue.
The side skippered by goalkeeper Peter Spathis have settled in rather well in their new surroundings in Isfahan while Football NSW?s Acting Futsal Manager Damian Briggs stated that the squad is chomping at the bits in getting ready for their first match.
?The buzz and excitement has really hit fever pitch and I know the squad are ready for battle against Wuhan Dilong.
?It has been a fantastic experience already and I know that each player and coaching staff have already benefited from this once in a life time trip.?
The NSW Thunder consists of 4 Sydney City Eagles, 4 Inner West Allstars, 2 Dural Warriors, 2 Campbelltown City Quake, 1 Mascot Vipers representatives and a player hailing from the Solomon Islands.
Jack Whetney is the Solomon Islands based striker who will no doubt add a touch of flair to the NSW Thunder squad in Iran.
The AFC has finalised the schedule of matches for the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2010 in Isfahan, Iran.
The tournament, for Asia?s top futsal club teams, will be held from March 4-12 at the Pirouzi Stadium in Isfahan.
There are 10 teams taking part and they are divided into two groups of five. The top two in each group advance to the semi-finals.
Group A comprises Foolad Mahan Sepahah, of Iran, Japan?s Nagoya Oceans, Uzbeks Stroitel Zarafshan, AUB Altyn Tash Bishkek, of Kyrgyzstan and Iraq side Nawrouz.
In Group B, the clubs are: Port Authority, of Thailand, China?s Wuhan Dilong, New South Wales Thunder, of Australia, Lebanon?s Pro?s Caf? and Al Sadd, of Qatar.
The participation of Nawrouz is subject to FIFA lifting its suspension on the Iraq Football Association.
The tournament was scheduled for this year but postponed because of the political situation in Iran at the time.
The match schedule is as follows (all times local. Matches at Pirouzi Stadium):
04/03/10
11:30: Al Sadd (Qatar) v Pro?s Caf? (Lebanon)
14:00: Nawrouz (Iraq) v Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
16:30: NSW Thunder (Australia) v Wuhan Dilong (China)
19:00: Stroikel Zarafshan (Uzbekistan) v Nagoya Oceans (Japan)
05/03/10
11:30: Al Sadd v NSW Thunder
14:00: Nawrouz v Stroitel Zarafshan
16:30: Pro?s Caf? v Port Authority (Thailand)
19:00: Bishkek v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (Iran)
06/03/10
11:30: Wuhan Dilong v Pro?s Cafe
14:00: Nagoya Oceans v Bishkek
16:30: Port Authority v Al Sadd
19:00: Foolad Mahan Sepahan v Nawrouz
08/03/10
11:30: Wuhan Dilong v Al Sadd
14:00: Nagoya Oceans v Nawrouz
16:30: NSW Thunder v Port Authority
19:00: Stroitel Zarafshan v Foolad Mahan Sepahan
09/03/10
11:30: Pro?s Caf? v NSW Thunder
14:00: Port Authority v Wuhan Dilong
16:30: Bishkek v Stroitel Zarafshan
19:00: Foolad Mahan Sepahan v Nagoya Oceans
11/03/10
16:30: Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A
19:00: Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B
12/03/10
16:30: Third-place play-off
19:00: Final
NSW Thunder Squad 2010
Peter Spathis (Captain) (Sydney City Eagles)
Roberto Maiorana (Inner West Allstars)
Adrian Vizzari (Inner West Allstars)
Lachlan Wright (Inner West Allstars)
Ediz Alpaka (Inner West Allstars)
Chris Zeballos (Sydney City Eagles)
Dylan Maloney Sydney City Eagles
Tudor Vasile (Sydney City Eagles)
Elliot Ragomo (Dural Warriors)
Rhys Giovenali (Dural Warriors)
Dean Lockart (Campbelltown City Quake)
Danny Martinez (Campbelltown City Quake)
Robert Issa (Mascot Vipers)
Jack Whetney (Soloman Islands)
-By Mark Stavroulakis
