Charleroi compete in Chorzów

Emotional final
Action 21 Charleroi completed the Belgian double last year and in a dramatic UEFA Futsal Cup final, the two-time runners-up defeated MFK Dinamo Mosvka 10-9 on aggregate after an emotional encounter that went into overtime in the Russian capital. Today they are in Poland for the first qualifying round of their title defence, having undergone a number of changes since that dramatic April afternoon.

Summer changes
Henrique and Kelson both scored in extra time in Moscow - and were promptly snapped up by Dinamo. Eder has joined another Russian team, TTG Java Yugorsk, and André Vanderlei and Luca Cragnaz have gone to GDL Châtelet. Action have therefore again turned to feeder club Kickers Charleroi, snapping up Rachid Ait Ahmed, Marco Farrian, Rolando Iandolo, Julien Pauly and Jhonny Van Melkebeke, giving the previously Brazilian-dominated side a more homegrown feel. However, two new Brazilians have been signed, Chico Paulista and Julio Pereira.

Porto prize
Just to show the new lineup meant business, they won the prestigious City of Porto international tournament last month, beating Boavista FC, Sporting Clube de Portugal and ambitious Italian outfit Lottomatica Roma. However, they have been held to draws in two of their four league matches so far, though on Friday they did defeat Roam Koninksem 10-2.

Iberia reunion
Charleroi kick off their Group 6 campaign tonight against Iberia 2003 Tbilisi, who boast Brazilian-born trio Mauro Fernando Ribeiro, Jean Nunes de Espirito Santo and Rafael Rodrigues de Araujo plus player-coach Andro Mizandrari, but have entered all four previous editions without making it past this stage. Indeed, in 2001/02 these teams met, and eventual runners-up Charleroi, on home territory, cruised to a 12-1 win. Last season Iberia held Dinamo to 2-1 for 30 minutes before conceding eight late goals.

Chorzów honour
Before that, mini-tournament hosts Clearex Chorzów open the group, being televised in Poland, against Lithuanian competition debutants FK Nautara Kaunas. Chorzów entered the first two Futsal Cups, and in the inaugural 2001/02 edition progressed to the eight-team final tournament held in Lisbon - where they played Charleroi in the group stage, losing 3-2 having trailed by three goals at the break. Those sides meet again in their last fixture on Thursday.

International trio
Chorzów, who lead the way at home this season, boast three Polish internationals in their ranks, Krystain Brzenk, Andrzej Szlapa and Marcin Stanislawski. "This tournament is all that counts for Clearex at the moment," Chorzów player Krzysztof Filipczak said. "Our form is an unknown quantity - we are not sure if it will be enough for Charleroi, who seem to be the strongest team. They are not at their best in the Belgian league. But I strongly believe in our chances of progress."