Kairat kings of Kazakhstan again

UEFA Futsal Cup holders Kairat Almaty have clinched their 11th consecutive Kazakh Futsal Championship title and are now switching their full attention to the upcoming European semi-finals.

As usual, Tulpar Karagandy gave Kairat their closest challenge, but their bid ended with three games to go as they lost 4-3 at home to Ayat. Both Tulpar and Ayat had beaten Kairat in the last fortnight but those were two of just three losses for the chamions in 38 games which have produced 34 victories and 339 goals.

Still, Kairat coach Cacau told UEFA.com that their competition with Tulpar, who they also beat in the UEFA Futsal Cup elite round, is still a great motivation for his team. "We are proud to have such a rival," he said. "But it's not only about Tulpar. Other teams progress every year and we must not relax. We have a few very important games ahead, yet most of our thoughts now, of course, are about the UEFA Futsal Cup."

In the semi-finals in Baku on 24 April, Kairat meet the club they beat to the title last year in Tbilisi, FC Dynamo. Assured of a 2014/15 return to Europe, with Tulpar needing Kairat to reatain the UEFA trophy to allow them another continental campaign, top scorer Alexandre Moraes said: "I think our team is really strong, and this championship proved that again. We showed our class.

"Now all our thoughts and ambitions are about Dynamo. Our coaching team will find a way to surprise the Russian side. We will put all our efforts into reaching the UEFA Futsal Cup final again. I'm happy to be with Kairat, it's a great club."