Culture - Sports

Asian Futsal draw favours Vietnam

Host Vietnam has a good draw at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal (indoor football) Championships to be held on April 30-May 10.
Host Vietnam has a good draw at the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) Futsal (indoor football) Championships to be held on April 30-May10.

The draw made in Ho Chi Minh City on February 23 placed the country in Group A along with Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Iraq.

"Thedraw is fair and balanced; I think Vietnam have a good draw," AlexSoosay, general secretary of the AFC, said when asked to comment on thedraw at a press conference later.

Sharing this view, Tran Anh Tu,chairman of the HCM City Football Federation and member of the AFCFutsal and Beach Soccer Committee, showed his optimism about thecountry’s chances of going beyond the group stage.

"We know wellabout Kuwait and we once beat them in 2012. But Tajikistan andIraq are foreign to us. If we can play at our best, we can completelyfinish in the top eight,” he said.

But Vietnam 's captain,Nguyen Bao Quan, was more wary: "We have played teams from the MiddleEast many times and they are very good technically and tactically. Theyenjoy the advantage of height and strength as well."

The experienced Quan will be one of the keys to Vietnam 's success.

GroupB features 10-time champs Iran , Australia , China , and Indonesia ,while Group C comprises Thailand , Lebanon , Chinese Taipei, andMalaysia .

Soosay said: "Group B promises to produce interestingmatches as we have three strong teams. While Iran is a multiple-timechampion, Australia and China are stronger than ever."

Group D has defending champions Japan , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , and the Republic of Korea .

"Defending champion Japan is expected to face strong competition from the rest of the group," Soosay said.

" Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have made great efforts to developfutsal. The Republic of Korea also showed considerable progressand have something to prove this time around."

Vietnam will host the event for the second time after the first one in 2005.-VNA
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