Sanaye Giti Pasand coach Alireza Afzal eyes historic second title
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Loading...AFC – HO CHI MINH CITY, In a repeat of the 2013 decider, Sanaye Giti Pasand will face Bluewave Chonburi in the AFC Futsal Club Championship Vietnam 2017 final on Sunday.
In a captivating final in Nagoya, Japan, four years ago, the night belonged to the Thais as they beat their opponents 4-1 on penalties.
When quizzed on the lessons learnt from that September night, Giti Pasand head coach Alireza Afzal was ardent in his response.
“I am not thinking about what happened four years ago. That is history. Tomorrow is a different game,” said Afzal, before sending a reminder that his side won the title in 2012.
After 11 days of gruelling competition, Bluewave Chonburi enter the final boasting the competition’s best offensive and defensive record.
The Thai side have scored an astonishing 24, five more than the competition’s second best goal scorers – Thai Son Nam – and that is despite playing a game less in the group stage.
“Yes, that is their strength. They are a very disciplined team, with a good defence and can pose a threat in attack through their patient play. But we are confident of our own abilities.”
Similar to his opposite number, the 43-year-old said his in-depth knowledge of his team’s opponents will work to Giti Pasand’s advantage.
“We know them very well. I have personally worked with their foreign player who used to play for Giti Pasand when we won the title in 2012,” added Afzal, referring to Brazilian Rudimar Venancio (Xapa).
Giti Pasand will also have to be wary of Jirawat Sornwichian, who hit a hat-trick in the 6-0 win over home favourites Thai Son Nam in the semi-finals on Friday.
“We have been analysing them for some time now, and we believe that we have done enough homework to get the victory.
“As I said right from the start of the competition, we came here with only one intention – to win the title. We are a big club and it is important for us, for Iranian futsal, that we become champions for the second time. We will be the only Iranian club to achieve this so it will be history for us.”
Photos: AFC
