Shamsaee returned the Asian futsal title to the laden Iranian trophy cabinet last year with a stellar show which saw him finding the net 11 times, one less than Kogure whose team Shamsaee beat in the final, but good enough for the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament gong and the AFC Futsal Player of the Year accolade.
“I consider Kogure a very high class player and we meet each other only once a year,” the 32-year-old Shamsaee told www.the-afc.com two days before Iran start their campaign in Bangkok for a record ninth Asian title in 10 years.
”This once-in-a-year meeting is a good time for me to see how much he has improved,” the all-time AFC Futsal Championship top-scorer said tongue-in-cheek.
“I also meet him during this time off the pitch and we exchange notes on what is happening with our lives,” said Shamsaee about the 2006 AFC Futsal Player of the Year.
Recalling Iran ’s win over Japan last year in front of Japanese fans in Osaka , Shamsaee could not hide his pride at avenging a humiliating semi-final ouster at the hands of their archrivals in Tashkent in 2006.
“ Iran has always had close contests with Japan but we have lost just once. Last year was memorable as we reclaimed the crown in front of 8,000 fans on their home ground and this was a great boost to us. I hope we can repeat it again in Bangkok ,” said Shamsaee.
Lest Iran's rivals had any doubt about the eight-time champions' motivational levels, Shamsaee put them at rest, saying, “We want to make it nine out of 10 at the end of this glorious futsal decade as the tournament becomes biennial from now on (the AFC Futsal Championship will be played once in two years from 2010 onwards). We have prepared for this edition with friendlies against top teams like Portugal.”
Shamsaee noted that Japan continued to their main challengers for the title though there was a marked improvement in the performance of China and Tajikistan.
“China performed well in the KL5 tournament recently but I think Japan are our serious rivals. Our target is the title in Bangkok and a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year,” said Shamsaee, setting the tone for yet another round of intense sparring with their archrivals for the Asian honours.
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