Iran's futsal team due in Manama

Tehran - Iranian futsal team will leave for Manama, capital of Bahrain, on October 23 to take part in a four-sided tournament.

Two teams from Bahrain, Iran, and Egypt, representative of Africa, will compete in the tourney. Iranian players will leave Manama for Dubai to shake off their fatigue and get ready for the world competitions in Taiwan.

The five-time Asian champion, Iran, will resume training in late October and is to leave for Taiwan one week sooner to play two friendlies prior to the world tournament.

Taiwan will play host to the 5th world futsal championships from Nov 21 to Dec 5. Iran has been grouped with Portugal, Argentina, and Cuba in the preliminary round.

The invincible Asian side was crowned in a four-sided event in Tehran on Sept 3. Top Asian goalscorer Vahid Shamsaei hit his hat-trick to hold the three-time world futsal champion Brazil in the 12,000-seater hall of Azadi Sports Complex, west of Tehran.

Iran, which was one point from the title of the four-sided tournament, fought back to hold the proud Brazilians to a 4-4 draw in the closing minutes.