ID :
107678
Sat, 02/20/2010 - 23:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/107678
The shortlink copeid
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE KICKS OFF TUESDAY
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The AFC Champions League group stage kicks
off next Tuesday with 32 Asian football clubs vying for top honours and missing
from the list is Malaysia.
The Asian Football Confederation in its bid to raise the standard of
football in Asia to new heights had introduced the AFC Champions League and this
year it comprises eight groups of four teams each, it said in a statement here
Saturday.
To be eligible to compete in the league AFC member associations have to
comply with a list of basic requirements.
Malaysia, once a powerhouse of football in Asia, has not met the “criteria
of participation” to play in the home and away league.
There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel for Malaysia as it is
among 12 countries that the AFC has sent letters urging them to prove that they
are capable of complying with the “criteria for participation” and participate
in next year’s league.
The other countries which have received the letters are Iraq, Jordan,
Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and
Yemen. Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam took part in play-offs to qualify for the
group stages in this year’s league.
AFC’s Director of Communications Sean Tohidi said the confederation was keen
to have more countries participate in the league and was ready to conduct
inspection visits once it receives the necessary documents from the member
associations.
A decision on the new participants will be taken after the AFC Executive
Committee meeting in November.
"Asian football indeed has reached new heights. We have made the transition
towards professional football, incorporating professional practices and
encouraging all our member associations to join us in our efforts," he said.
“We are very pleased with the way things are going and it is good to
remember that this is only the beginning. We still have a lot of ground to cover
but the important thing is that we are on the right track and moving forward,”
Tohidi said.
He said Asian Football had the potential to rival any league in the world
and what was required was that the AFC stayed on track and continued its efforts
to further develop the game in Asia.
“We are hoping for the day that Asian fans cheer their own clubs rather than
cheer European clubs. In a way the English Premier League acts as a reminder to
us that we still have work to do. The potential is there and we plan to tap that
potential for the better of Asian football,” he added.
The popularity and success of the league has brought it sponsors such as
Emirates Airlines, Epson, ING, Nike, Novotel, Pocari Sweat, Qatar Petroleum,
QTel, Toyota with DHL, Nikon and QuestNet coming in as supporters.
To further increase the tournament’s popularity and to promote better
interaction with supporters and television fans, QuestNet is sponsoring several
contests and promotional events including “Goal of the Month” where football
enthusiasts who watch the games on television get to pick what they consider as
the best goal for the month and stand a chance to win prizes.
“Our partners and sponsors have lots of promotional programmes for the
tournament. In some cases they supply equipment and logistical support and in
other cases they get involved with fan promotions which the fans seem to enjoy.
Without our partners the tournament will not be possible,” said Tohidi.
J.R. Mayer, Managing Director, QNet Ltd said his firm has been associated
with the AFC Champions League since late last year. “Our role as ‘Official
Direct Selling Supporter’ will continue until 2012."
"We are committed in our efforts to popularise football in the region so
more youngsters will play the game, and our message to football fans is ‘Dream.
Perform. Achieve’ and bring the game to greater heights.”
Tohidi said AFC’s main focus was the development of the game in Asia and a
consolidated effort to move towards professional football.
“Asian players are making an impact on world football. We have very talented
players playing in Europe. One other thing that has been introduced is the 3+1
rule where a team can recruit 3 foreign players plus one Asian player.
“This opens another set of opportunities for Asian players to get exposure
outside of their home teams. The more exposure players have to different styles
and ways to approach the game, the better their chances to get more exposure in
other places,” he said.
Having put in place a high quality tournament followed by millions in Asia,
AFC plans to ramp up its efforts and encourage other members to meet the
criteria of participation.
-- BERNAMA
off next Tuesday with 32 Asian football clubs vying for top honours and missing
from the list is Malaysia.
The Asian Football Confederation in its bid to raise the standard of
football in Asia to new heights had introduced the AFC Champions League and this
year it comprises eight groups of four teams each, it said in a statement here
Saturday.
To be eligible to compete in the league AFC member associations have to
comply with a list of basic requirements.
Malaysia, once a powerhouse of football in Asia, has not met the “criteria
of participation” to play in the home and away league.
There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel for Malaysia as it is
among 12 countries that the AFC has sent letters urging them to prove that they
are capable of complying with the “criteria for participation” and participate
in next year’s league.
The other countries which have received the letters are Iraq, Jordan,
Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and
Yemen. Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam took part in play-offs to qualify for the
group stages in this year’s league.
AFC’s Director of Communications Sean Tohidi said the confederation was keen
to have more countries participate in the league and was ready to conduct
inspection visits once it receives the necessary documents from the member
associations.
A decision on the new participants will be taken after the AFC Executive
Committee meeting in November.
"Asian football indeed has reached new heights. We have made the transition
towards professional football, incorporating professional practices and
encouraging all our member associations to join us in our efforts," he said.
“We are very pleased with the way things are going and it is good to
remember that this is only the beginning. We still have a lot of ground to cover
but the important thing is that we are on the right track and moving forward,”
Tohidi said.
He said Asian Football had the potential to rival any league in the world
and what was required was that the AFC stayed on track and continued its efforts
to further develop the game in Asia.
“We are hoping for the day that Asian fans cheer their own clubs rather than
cheer European clubs. In a way the English Premier League acts as a reminder to
us that we still have work to do. The potential is there and we plan to tap that
potential for the better of Asian football,” he added.
The popularity and success of the league has brought it sponsors such as
Emirates Airlines, Epson, ING, Nike, Novotel, Pocari Sweat, Qatar Petroleum,
QTel, Toyota with DHL, Nikon and QuestNet coming in as supporters.
To further increase the tournament’s popularity and to promote better
interaction with supporters and television fans, QuestNet is sponsoring several
contests and promotional events including “Goal of the Month” where football
enthusiasts who watch the games on television get to pick what they consider as
the best goal for the month and stand a chance to win prizes.
“Our partners and sponsors have lots of promotional programmes for the
tournament. In some cases they supply equipment and logistical support and in
other cases they get involved with fan promotions which the fans seem to enjoy.
Without our partners the tournament will not be possible,” said Tohidi.
J.R. Mayer, Managing Director, QNet Ltd said his firm has been associated
with the AFC Champions League since late last year. “Our role as ‘Official
Direct Selling Supporter’ will continue until 2012."
"We are committed in our efforts to popularise football in the region so
more youngsters will play the game, and our message to football fans is ‘Dream.
Perform. Achieve’ and bring the game to greater heights.”
Tohidi said AFC’s main focus was the development of the game in Asia and a
consolidated effort to move towards professional football.
“Asian players are making an impact on world football. We have very talented
players playing in Europe. One other thing that has been introduced is the 3+1
rule where a team can recruit 3 foreign players plus one Asian player.
“This opens another set of opportunities for Asian players to get exposure
outside of their home teams. The more exposure players have to different styles
and ways to approach the game, the better their chances to get more exposure in
other places,” he said.
Having put in place a high quality tournament followed by millions in Asia,
AFC plans to ramp up its efforts and encourage other members to meet the
criteria of participation.
-- BERNAMA
