AFC committed to futsal development

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Committee Chairman Richard Lai has reiterated the Asian Football Confederation's commitment to developing and promoting the game throughout the continent.

Speaking at the Team Manager's Meeting ahead of the quarter-finals of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship, Lai stated "there is been a lot of development projects being carried out by the AFC in futsal and now many member associations are paying attention to the game much more than before.

"But we still have a lot of room to learn and to grow."

In addition to looking into the grassroots and technical side of developing the game throughout the continent Lai remarked that the AFC is keen to popularise and promote the 'small-sided-game' by having a top level competition for clubs annually, adding "the AFC are focussing seriously on futsal development and that is why we are having the AFC Futsal Club Championship every year.

"The majority of the players playing at the club level will have a chance to improve and develop."

The AFC Futsal Club Championship takes place in Kuwait in July marking a significant couple of months for Asian futsal coming so soon after the 12th edition of the AFC Futsal Championship, which continues on Tuesday with the eagerly-anticipated quarter-finals.

Lai concluded "I would like to congratulate all the teams who have made it through to the quarter-finals and express the AFC's thanks to the Local Organising Committee for their wonderful hospitality."

The quarter-finals of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship take place on tonight (Tuesday 29th May) when eight teams battle to remain in the hunt for Asian futsal glory with a place in the semi-finals, which brings with it qualification to the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.

All quarter-final matches will be streamed live on www.the-afc.com

25th May 2012 - ASIAN FUTSAL NATIONS CHASING THAILAND 2012 PLACES