Saipa will start the competition with a match against Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi in Pool B, on Friday.
“It has been two years that we were away from the international arenas due to COVID-19. We have just met our rivals here and we do not know them very well,” Hashemi said.
“I have many experienced players and I expect them to try to be among the top four teams. I know many teams are coming with their national players. The level of the event is high and we will have tough matches ahead of us.”
We have to focus on the matches day by day. We could not get help from our legionnaires and they are now playing with their teams outside Iran and could not come to give us helping hand,” Hashemi added.