Sport

Norouzi says no reason why Afghanistan can’t win Futsal World Cup

The Lions of Khorasan will have one factor in their favor. Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan and are expected to enjoy vociferous support at the tournament

Published

3 months ago

August 25, 2024

Ariana News

With just under three weeks to go before FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ kicks off, Afghanistan’s team is gearing up to take on Angola in their first match of the tournament on September 15.

Speaking to FIFA this week, Afghanistan player Mahdi Norouzi said: “Playing in the Futsal World Cup is very important to the people of Afghanistan. They have longed to see their team in the World Cup for many years and fortunately we were able to advance to the World Cup with the help of the head coach, the players and prayers of our people.”

This comes after Afghanistan went into the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time in April - and as rank outsiders.

Majid Mortezaei’s side nevertheless recorded 5-3 victories over Iraq and Kyrgyz Republic to conquer the four-team play-offs for a place at the World Cup.

“We were so happy that we were able to make the people of Afghanistan proud and give them a smile,” Norouzi said.

“The people of Afghanistan deserved this happiness.”

He went on to say that Afghanistan’s head coach has been watching not only Helber Garcia, Angola’s star, but all their players.

“Without doubt we’ll have a special plan to play against Angola and beat them,” he said.

Argentina, who finished first and second respectively at the last two FIFA Futsal World Cups, will provide hurdle number two, but Afghanistan are undaunted by their opponents’ credentials.

“It’s true that Argentina have a very good team and are one of the contenders to win this World Cup,” Norouzi remarked.

“But no team has as much motivation as we do. We have no fear of Argentina and we will enter battle to win.”

He said the team’s first goal was to advance from the group stage and that ultimately they would like to win the title.

“Every team that qualified for this Futsal World Cup is good and it’s difficult to predict who will lift the trophy, but I really like Afghanistan’s chances.

“Every team has big stars. I think many players from Brazil, Portugal, Spain and even Afghanistan are among the world’s best players,” he said.

The Lions of Khorasan will have one factor in their favor. Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan and are expected to enjoy vociferous support at the tournament.

“We are neighbors,” explained Norouzi. “Many of our compatriots live in Uzbekistan. We expect to have many fans cheering us on.”

For fans unable to travel to the sporting extravaganza, Ariana Television will however broadcast matches live across the country.

Afghanistan’s first match, on day 2 of the tournament, will take place on Sunday, September 15 at 17:00.

This will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.

This is the first FIFA tournament to be held in Central Asia, and as such is expected to draw crowds of supporters.

Three Host Cities, the capital, Tashkent, Andijan in the Fergana Valley and in ancient Silk Road trading center of Bukhara, will stage games as Uzbekistan becomes the fourth AFC member to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup after Hong Kong (1992), Chinese Taipei (2004) and Thailand (2012).

The 24-team line-up for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 is as follows: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, France, Guatemala, IR Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

Up Next

Afghanistan name preliminary squad for one-off test against New Zealand

Don't Miss

Afghanistan’s U-17 football team wins CAFA championship

Sport

FIFA unveils Innovative Club World Cup Trophy ahead of new tournament in 2025

The tournament will kick off from Sunday 15 June and run through to Sunday 13 July.

Published

18 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Ariana News

FIFA has unveiled the official Innovative FIFA Club World Cup Trophy that will be lifted for the first time at next year’s tournament, set to be staged across 11 host cities in the United States.

The tournament will kick off from Sunday 15 June and run through to Sunday 13 July.

The new trophy, designed by FIFA and crafted in collaboration with global luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co., will be presented to the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup winners, who will be crowned after the final at the MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “Innovative, inclusive, groundbreaking and truly global, the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup deserves a trophy that represents all of this. It is both prestigious and timeless – a golden trophy that is a symbol of the future and inspired by the past.”

“The team who lift this trophy will hold the world of club football in their hands. To the players who win it, history belongs to you! Let’s take it to the world and celebrate it as we look forward to the start of a new era for football when the one and only FIFA club world champions lift the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy in New York New Jersey on 13 July 2025.”

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Tiffany & Co., Anthony Ledru, added: “With a legacy dating back 160 years, Tiffany & Co. has crafted some of the most iconic championship trophies in history, setting the standard for craft and design.

“The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy is the next chapter in our long history of creating the world’s most revered symbols of athletic achievement.”

The trophy meanwhile boasts a 24-carat gold-plated finish and features intricate laser-engraved inscriptions on both sides, showcasing text and imagery that portray football’s rich history.

The inscriptions include a world map and the names of all 211 FIFA Member Associations and the six confederations, representing the geographical and cultural diversity of the game.

The trophy’s central disc displays an array of icons that capture football’s traditions, including symbols of stadiums and equipment and a world map.

The trophy also features engravings in 13 languages and Braille.

Space is available to laser-engrave the emblems of the winning clubs for 24 editions of the tournament.

In addition, the trophy can transform from a shield into a multifaceted and orbital structure – an adaptable design that establishes a powerful visual structure.

An inspiring message to the champions is engraved on the trophy, including the following: “To those who hold this trophy, history belongs to you! You are witness to a moment in time that represents the pinnacle of club football, bestowed upon few but celebrated by many.”

These words reflect the trophy’s status as a symbol of greatness, honoring the legends of the past while inspiring clubs globally.

A trophy for champions

Meanwhile, the winning team at each edition will receive a replica of the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy featuring engravings that mark their triumph after the final.

The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy will be presented to the world in its physical form on Thursday, 5 December 2024, when FIFA hosts the tournament’s draw in Miami, USA.

Sport

Eighteen Afghan players shortlisted for IPL auction

Published

2 days ago

November 16, 2024

Ariana News

Eighteen Afghan players have been shortlisted for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction scheduled in Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25.

A total of 29 Afghan cricketers had registered for the auction.

On Friday, the IPL governing body unveiled the shortlist of 574 players, which includes 18 Afghans.

Out of the 574 Players, 366 are Indian and 208 are overseas, including 3 players from associate nations. The auction will include 318 Indian uncapped players and 12 uncapped overseas players.

204 slots will be up for grabs with 70 available slots for overseas players.

Full list of Afghan players shortlisted for the auction:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Noor Ahmad
Waqar Salamkheil
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
Azmatullah Omarzai
Naveen-ul-haq
Zahir Khan Pakten
Sediqullah Atal
Mohammad Nabi
Gulbadin Naib
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Najibullah Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran
Qais Ahmad
Karim Janat
Faridoon Dawoodzai
Nangyal Kharote

Sport

Paul beats Tyson as former heavyweight champ can’t turn back clock

Tyson, who wore a knee brace, never mounted much of a challenge after being wobbled by some left hands in the third round but did enough defensively to avoid taking any serious damage.

Published

2 days ago

November 16, 2024

Ariana News

Jake Paul beat boxing legend Mike Tyson by unanimous decision to win an intergenerational heavyweight battle in Texas on Friday that failed to live up to its enormous hype.

The bout between the 27-year-old social media influencer-turned-prizefighter Paul and the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Tyson was streamed live on Netflix and played out in front of a sold-out crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Reuters reported.

Those fans were left largely disappointed as Tyson showed his age and was never able to generate any offense against his younger opponent, landing just 18 punches to Paul's 78.

"First and foremost, Mike Tyson - it's an honor to be able to fight him," said Paul.

"It was as tough and hard as I thought it would be."

Tyson, who wore a knee brace, never mounted much of a challenge after being wobbled by some left hands in the third round but did enough defensively to avoid taking any serious damage.

He admitted after the contest to fighting through a leg injury.

"Yeah, but I can't use that as an excuse. If I did, I wouldn't be in here," Tyson said.

"I knew he was a good fighter. He was prepared, I came to fight. I didn't prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I'm not one of those guys that live to please the world. I'm just happy with what I can do."

Tyson, one of the most fearsome heavyweight champions of all time during his heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was in his first professional fight in nearly 20 years. He was non-committal when asked if he would return to the ring again.

"I don't know. It depends on the situation," he said.

Paul (11-1) said he can now fight anyone he wants, possibly even Mexican Canelo Alvarez, after being the main attraction in the mega event that brought out a star-studded crowd and 72,300 fight fans to the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

"This is the biggest event, over 120 million people on Netflix. We crashed the site, The biggest U.S. boxing gate, $20 million, in U.S. history, and everyone is next on the list."

TAYLOR BEATS SERRANO

In the co-main event earlier in the evening, Ireland's Katie Taylor retained her super lightweight title by beating Puerto Rico's Amanda Serrano in a controversial unanimous decision after a violent affair.

Serrano came forward throughout the fight but their heads crashed together hard in the early stages, resulting in a deep cut over Serrano's right eye. The referee later took a point off Taylor for head butts.

In the end all three judges scored it 95-94 for Taylor, who denied accusations from Serrano's corner that she was fighting dirty.

Taylor won the pair's previous meeting at New York's Madison Square Garden in April 2022 and said there would be a third meeting.