Team Melli a mix of old and new

AFC - Asian futsal kingpins Iran arrived in Bangkok on Thursday and coach Hossein Shams lost little time in putting rival title contenders on notice, saying Team Melli was fitter and better prepared than last year.

The Iranians will be hunting for their ninth AFC Futsal Championship silverware in 10 years and open their campaign against Kuwait on Sunday at the Hua Mark Stadium.

“We have made 30 per cent changes to the team compared to last year,” said Shams who helped Team Melli reclaim the title last year they had lost to Japan in 2006.

“The team’s average age is three years young now and this will be very effective. Ali Asghar Hassan Zade and Mostafa Taiebi are only 19 years old but they can learn from veterans like Mohammad Reza Heidarian, Vahid Shamsaei and Kazem Mohammadi.”

“This team is a good combination of young and experienced players and fitter and better prepared than last year due to the number of friendlies we have played in the run-up to the championship,” added the coach.

Iran’s other group rivals are China and Tajikistan.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR IRAN SQUAD LIST AND TEAM PROFILE

http://www.the-afc.com/eng/competitions/team/index.jsp_futsal-0808-528.html