Dural Warriors ready for 2013 AFC Futsal Club Championship
The official draw was announced in Kuala Lumpur where two groups were announced with the Australian debutants pooled in Group B.
Coached by Futsalroos Assistant Coach Rob Varela, the experienced tactician will be hoping the likes of players such as Futsalroos captain Greg Giovenali, Futsalroos Internationals Tobias Seeto, Jarrod Basger and Nathan Niski steer the Australian side to hopeful qualification for the next round.
Indonesian side Pelindo FC had missed out the finals of the AFC Futsal Club Championship in 2012 after Vietnam’s Thai Son Nam defeated them 2-1 in the added extra time to book the berth in the tournament proper.
This time around, Pelindo have an opportunity to take the revenge as the neighbouring foes are drawn in the same group in the qualifiers for the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 to be held in August.
Chinese debutant Shenzhen Nanling are against experienced Thai campaigner GH Bank, fellow debutants Pasargad FC of the Philippines and Tainan City of Chinese Taipei in Group A.
A total of three teams from Zone 2 qualifiers will qualify for the finals where the league champions of Iran, Uzbekistan and Japan will be awaiting them. Iran’s Sanaye Giti Pasand had defeated Uzbekistan Ardus in the final held in Kuwait last year. Japan’s Nagoya Oceans finished third in the tournament.
The additional two slots of the finals will be decided from Zone 1 qualifiers which will be played at the same venue in Malaysia from April 19 to 24.
-By Mark Stavroulakis
