The historic draw was overseen by AFC Futsal Committee member Abbas Torabian and held before a packed auditorium at the Aseman Hotel, which included Abarghooii Nejad, the President of the Esfahan Football Federation, Mr. Mossadeghian, Vice President of the Physical Education Board and Mr. Shiran, from Esfahan Province’s Physical Education Board.
The ten participating teams were divided into two groups of five with the winners and runners-up meeting to decide which club will write their name in Asian Futsal history as the first-ever club champions.
Hosts Foolad Mahan, who will be spearheaded by Iran Futsal legend and the sport’s leading international goal scorer Vahid Shamsaee, are in Group A and can expect stiff competition from 2007 and 2008 F.League champions Nagoya Oceans, Iraq’s Nawrouz and the Central Asian duo of Uzbek outfit Stroitel Zarafshan and AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek from Kyrgyzstan.
Group B consists of Thai champions Port Authority, New South Wales Thunder, who defeated ACT Cobras 2-1 to win the 2009 Australian National Futsal Championship, Lebanon’s Pro Café, Chinese hopeful’s Wuhan Dilang and Al Sadd from Qatar.
2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship draw:
Group A
Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)
Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
Nawrouz (IRQ)
Group B
Port Authority (THA)
Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
Pro’s Café (LIB)
Al Sadd (QAT)
2009 AFC Futsal Club Championship match schedule:
4 July 1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
5 July 1130 Al Sadd (QAT) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
1400 Nawrouz (IRQ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
1630 Pro’s Café (LIB) v Port Authority (THA)
1900 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)
6 July 1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Pro’s Café (LIB)
1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ)
1630 Port Authority (THA) v Al Sadd (QAT)
1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)
8 July 1130 Wuhan Dilong (CHN) v Al Sadd (QAT)
1400 Nagoya Oceans (JPN) v Nawrouz (IRQ)
1630 New South Wales Thunder (AUS) v Port Authority (THA)
1900 Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB) v Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN)
9 July 1130 Pro’s Café (LIB) v New South Wales Thunder (AUS)
1400 Port Authority (THA) v Wuhan Dilong (CHN)
1630 AUB Altyn Tas Bishkek (KGZ) v Stroitel Zarafshan (UZB)
1900 Foolad Mahan Sepahan (IRN) v Nagoya Oceans (JPN)
11 July 1630 Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A
1900 Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B
12 July 1630 Third-place play-off
1900 Final
All matches to be played at the Pirouzi Stadium, Esfahan. All kick-off times local.
| 
Hashemian hangs up boots, dreams of coaching
Iran football team wins bronze at Asian
Floro likely to coach Persepolis
Brandts presented as Iran’s Rah Ahan coach
Nekounam stays in Pamplona
Villarreal Ready To Buy Out Javad
AFC Futsal Club Championship postponed
Paykan wins Asian Club Volleyball title
ISP Exclusive Interview with Shervin
ISP Exclusive Interview with Alexander Nouri
The Greenest of the Green Field
Editorial: Where Did It All Go Wrong?
