“Tasisat set for title defense at AFC Futsal Club Championship”: Amir Shamsaei

Tasnim – BANGKOK, Iran’s Tasisat Daryaei coach Amir Shamsaei insists it will be more difficult to retain the AFC Futsal Club Championship than winning it for the first time.

The reigning champion prepares to begin the defense of its title against debutant Almalyk FC of Uzbekistan in Group B at Bangkok Arena on Friday.

The Iranian side won all five of their matches on home soil in 2015 to claim the continental competition at the first time of asking after seeing off Kuwait’s Al Qadsia in the final to cap a memorable debut.

“We are here to defend the championship that we won last year but I know it’s a tough task we face. We always say that retaining the championship is harder than gaining it,” said Shamsaei, whose side will face another debutant in Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen on Sunday.

“I see every game as a final, and we are all focused on the first match as well as thinking of the next stage. We are very well prepared for this tournament,” the coach told the-afc.com.