Kairat Almaty on the verge of making history: UEFA Futsal Cup News
Kairat Almaty is hoping a major support at their home ground, Kazakhstan, in the semi-finals against the Sporting Clube de Portugal. For Kairat winning the cup will be no more than making a history on their home ground. Both the teams are the best in the game, but in the end the winner takes it all.
The semi-final will be contested today April 29, for the 11th UEFA Futsal Club Championships at the Baluan Sholak Sport Palace, while the finals and the third place matches will be contested on Sunday at the same venue.
The UEFA Futsal tournament is underway at Kazakhstan for the first time. The Kairat Almaty will be contesting in the sixth semi-final of the tournament series. The Kairat Almaty team ended-up at the top postion in Group C. The host nation team will hope to keep the cup in the country. In the last championship Lisbon rivals SL Benfica won the cup.
The host nation team is owned by Kairat Orazbekov and is coach by Brazilian, João Carlos Barbosa. The captain of the team Kelson is hoping high for the team, as they were the third best team in the 2009 championship.
The captain of the Kairat Almaty said, "We are going into the last four with an ambition that isn't just for the Futsal team but for the whole club.
Barbosa said, "I would say our team have the same chance as the rest. But I think we can get to the final and win. After a defeat like 2009 [5-0 in the semi-finals by Interviú Madrid], you look for things to take you forward, and from that experience we have been able to build a solid team which has got us to the semi-finals. The public, the press, everyone is really excited – this is a huge event for Kazakhstan."
The coach of the Brazilian team Orlando Duarte joined the Portugal team in 2010 and led them to the runners-up spot in 2010 EURO Futsal. The Portugal team did quite well in the 2010 Futsal EURO and it was all due to the great guidance of the coach, Orlando Duarte. This time he is not with them, but the team has been under him and is well prepared for the semi-finals against the Kairat Almaty.
The second semi-final will be played amongst the teams from ASD Citta Di Montesilvano, Italy and the SL Benfica from Portugal. The SL Benfica ended up at the top position in Group A. If both the clubs from Portugal succeed in winning the semi-finals it will be a unique final in the history of Futsal that two clubs from the same country compete for the cup.
The Kairat club defeated ElPozo Murcia FS, the top club from Spain in the qualifying rounds held at Lisbon earlier this year.
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