NSW Thunder avoid Futsal big guns

Australian National Futsal Champions, NSW Thunder has managed to avoid the big guns for the inaugural edition of the AFC Futsal Club Championship, which will take place at Pirouzi Stadium from July 4 to 12 in Esfahan, Iran.

Australian National Futsal Champions, NSW Thunder has managed to avoid the big guns for the inaugural edition of the AFC Futsal Club Championship, which will take place at Pirouzi Stadium from July 4 to 12 in Esfahan, Iran.

Thunder was drawn in Group B, missing the likes of Iran-s Foolad Mahan Sepahan and Japan-s Nagoya Oceans who are expected to be the favourites for the inaugural title. They will instead face Thai champions Port Authority, China-s Wuhan Dilang, Lebanon-s Pro Café and Al Sadd from Qatar.

The ten participating teams were divided into two groups of five with the winners and runners-up meeting to decide which club will write their name in Asian Futsal history as the first-ever club champions.

The historic draw was overseen by AFC Futsal Committee member Abbas Torabian and held before a packed auditorium at the Aseman Hotel, which included Abarghooii Nejad, the President of the Esfahan Football Federation, Mr. Mossadeghian, Vice President of the Physical Education Board and Mr. Shiran, from Esfahan Province-s Physical Education Board.

NSW Thunder earned their right to play at the Championship after defeating ACT Cobras in the final of the FFA National Championships in Canberra earlier this year. The training squad of about 20 players is being looked at for the final 14-man squad, the allowed number of players permitted by each side for the tournament.

2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship draw:

Group A Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) Nagoya Oceans (JPN) Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) Nawrouz (IRQ)

Group B Port Authority (THA) Wuhan Dilong (CHN) New South Wales Thunder (AUS) Pro-s Café (LIB) Al Sadd (QAT) 2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship match schedule:

4 July 1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v Pro-s Café (LIB) 1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) 1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN) 1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)

5 July 1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS) 1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) 1630 Pro-s Café (LIB) v Port Authority (THA) 1900 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

6 July 1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Pro-s Café (LIB) 1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) 1630 Port Authority (THA) v Al Sadd (QAT) 1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)

8 July 1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Al Sadd (QAT) 1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v Nawrouz (IRQ) 1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Port Authority (THA) 1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)

9 July 1130 Pro-s Café (LIB) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS) 1400 Port Authority (THA) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN) 1630 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) 1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)