Ho Chi Minh City: With the 2017 AFC Futsal Club Championship kicking off tomorrow, we spoke to three of the sport’s most successful coaches to get their views and predictions ahead of the eighth edition of the competition.
Jose Maria Pazos guided Chonburi Bluewave to the 2013 title and a runner-up finish at the 2014 tournament, and is currently at the helm of the Thailand national futsal team.
Nagoya Oceans coach Pedro Costa was in charge of the Japanese club when they lifted last year’s AFC Futsal Club Championship and was a player at the 2013 and 2015 tournaments.
Japan national futsal team coach Bruno Garcia took Vietnamese club Thai Som Nam to third place at the 2015 edition, the best-ever finish for a side from the ASEAN country.
Q: You have all enjoyed notable success at the AFC Futsal Club Championship before, can you tell us the memories of your achievements?
Jose Maria Pazos: Winning the title was obviously a fantastic feeling. A sense of satisfaction knowing that all the preparation and training had been rewarded.
For the team, it was an amazing journey because we trained very hard and prepared ourselves to fight for every ball until the very last second. It was like all the pieces of the puzzle falling into the right place at the right time.
Pedro Costa: I still don’t know if it was real or just a dream.
Bruno Garcia: My memories and feelings about the 2015 AFC Futsal Club Championship are fantastic because Thai Son Nam in that moment were not one of the favourites and yet we achieved a place on the podium, the first time for Vietnamese Futsal and I’m proud to be part of Vietnamese Futsal History.
Q: Why do you think this competition, the AFC Futsal Club Championship, is so important for futsal in Asia?
Pazos: This event is almost the equivalent of the UEFA Champions League for Asia but for Futsal. It is an opportunity for the clubs to rise up and show what standards they have reached and what the future looks like for clubs in their respective countries.
It is a very important event for Asia and the AFC because it also provides an understanding for the rest of the world – who are watching I can assure you – to know what levels Asian players are at.
The bridge between Asia and the rest of the world is getting closer and closer.
Garcia: I think every competition is very important for Futsal development in Asia. We need international competitions because that is the best way to approach the world powers of Europe and South America.
In the last FIFA Futsal World Cup, Colombia 2016, three Asia National Teams – IR Iran, Vietnam and Thailand – finished in the Top 16.
Iran are the current AFC Futsal Champions.
Costa: It is very important to be able to compete against other countries. We always learn things about futsal and about life and that makes us grow. At the same time, it prepares the players for the competitions in the national teams.
Q: Who do you think will win the 2017 AFC Futsal Club Championship?
Pazos: It is hard to say because there are so many good teams that will be playing. Surely, though, the team that win will be the one that play as a team, with quality movement, passing, being disciplined and are fully focused from the first match, the first second, until the final whistle.
Garcia: There are five favourites and all of them are in the running to be champions: Shriker Osaka, Thai Son Nam, Chonburi Bluewave, Nafit Al Wasat and Giti Pasand.
Chonburi Bluewave finished third at the 2016 AFC Futsal Club Championship.
If the last four or five AFC Club Championship are analysed, it can be concluded that the competition is already very open.
Costa: As a famous Portuguese sportsman used to say: "I only make predictions after knowing the final result!"
Q: Are there any teams that you think can cause a surprise, and why?
Pazos: Thai Son Nam have a very good bunch of Vietnam national team players who have now added two very good signings in Tayyebi from Iran and Lukaian, the former Brazilian international.
Then there is Shenzhen from China, Almalyk FC from Uzbekistan and very importantly Bank of Beirut because Lebanese players are very talented and skilful.
Al Rayyan took part in the 2015 AFC Futsal Club Championship.
Garcia: Maybe Al Rayyan. In the last Intercontinental Cup 2016 they finished in fourth place.
Costa: In these competitions, outsiders always emerge. Last year, we weren't the favourites but we became champions.
Q: Who are the players to look out for and why?
Pazos: There are so many, it will be hard to list all of them here. It is like compiling the best of Asian Futsal talent mixed with some of the best foreign talent playing in Asia.
They are all in the list. From Suphawut to Tayyebi and Esmaeilpour to Yunusov and Artur to Heimi to so many others. That’s just a few of the Asian stars! Then you have the international superstars like Xapa, Lukaian, Cabreuva and so many more. It is like a red carpet of Futsal superstars in Asia.
Suphawut Thueanklang was Top Scorer at the 2016 AFC Futsal Championship.
Garcia: I can’t just name a few, there are many players to look out for in Asia in this moment! I think this is very important for Futsal development in this continent.
Costa: Iranian players can always shine through with their individual abilities. I also believe in the quality of Thai players but I really hope that a Japanese player can become the tournament MVP.
Q: What is your opinion on the host Vietnam, how well is futsal developing well there?
Pazos: I believe Futsal is going in the right direction there. It is also in very good hands and good management.
They are definitely going to be a very strong team and are set up for many years to come because you can see the same dedication and focus that I once saw in Thailand.
Garcia: My thoughts on the way the Futsal is developing in Vietnam are very positives. The Vietnam Futsal Federation is making a great investment in these years and they show that they are already making a great deal to be a Futsal power in Asia.
Costa: In the last years, Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing countries in futsal. Their clubs and national team have achieved fantastic results and being the host country can lead them to make their dream come true.
Q: Finally, why should fans watch the AFC Futsal Club Championship tournament?
Garcia: Fans should watch because they will see spectacular action, goals, shots, skills, creativity, great set plays and spontaneous actions that seem to come from nowhere.
I’m certain that if football fans watch futsal live frequently, they will repeat. If you love football, you will also love futsal.
Costa: Fans should watch because Futsal is: Speed, Intensity, Emotion, Entertainment and can present them with goals from another world!
Pazos: Simple – It is your opportunity to watch the best Futsal in Asia.
Photos: Lagardère Sports & AFC
Source: the-afc.com