Iran’s Futsal Team Preparing for Asian Event

Mohammad-Hassan Ansarifard, national manager of Iran's futsal team, has invited 21 players to attend the second-stage training sessions.

The 5th Asian Futsal Championships will be held here from July 27 to August 5.

The invited players are Reza Nasseri, Hamidreza Abrarinia, Mostafa Nazari, Hamid Neshatjoo, Kazem Sadeqi, Ali Sanei, Saeid Abdollah-Nejad, Reza Heidarian, Siamak Dadashi, Vahid Shamsaei, Kazem Mohammadi, Mohammad Hashemzadeh, Hamid Shandizi, Ahmad Pari-Azar, Majid Reissi, Mohsen Zarei, Hadi Mansouri, Majid Takidari, Reza Naderi, Hojjat Reissifard, and Amir Amir-Beigi.

The training resumes in Azadi Sports Complex, 10km west of Tehran, on June 29, said Ansarifard.

AFC NAMES IRAN AS NEW HOST TO ASIAN FUTSAL MEET

Iran will host this year's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) futsal championship.

"The tournament was scheduled to take place on July 27-August 5 in Japan but concerns over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) forced the Japan Football Association to ask the game's governing body in Asia to find another host," he said.

The AFC sent its representative, Zulkifli Sulong, to Tehran last week to discuss with Iranian organizers tournament preparations and the venue of the games.

He also confirmed that the date of the tournament has been fixed July 27 to August 5.

Iran has stepped into the breach at short notice, winning the gratitude of AFC Secretary General Peter Velappan.

Velappan has already said: "We are very pleased that Iran has stepped in to host this premier Asian futsal event and we are confident that they will do an excellent job with only one month to go to complete their preparations."

This year's tournament, which will be played at the same time as originally scheduled, sees its biggest number of entries yet -- 18.

Teams will be split into four groups, with the top two teams progressing to the knockout quarterfinals.

Iran, specially with home advantage, is expected to progress, having been drawn against China, Kyrgyzstan and debutante Lebanon in Group C.

KK/SM

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MNA