Friday, June 18, 2010
An ASEAN League
As co-owner and team principal of the Lotus F1 team, on top of running a host of companies including low-cost carrier Air Asia, Tony Fernandes' has his hands full.
Yet the Malaysian, who also owns the Singapore Slingers basketball team and founded the Asean Basketball League that will start its second season later this year with two more teams, is planning one last big project: An Asean football league for clubs.
"My dream is to be involved in football somehow," said Fernandes. "I am trying to create an Asean league like I have done in basketball, because I think there is a tremendous opportunity to create one. But that would be it and after that I don't think I would be doing any more."
He is willing to put the whole project together, but the region's football administrators must decide if they want it.
"I have been doing this type of thing for awhile. This can be done very quickly, I started the basketball league in six months because the various administrators wanted it," he told MediaCorp. "So when the Asean Football Federation is ready, I will be ready because a lot of work has been done already."
Fernandes believes it will be as big as the rivalry between Singapore and states teams across the Causeway during the Malaysia Cup days.
"There is nothing like watching live entertainment and local rivalry is what people want. We don't have it and are forced to watch Chelsea and Manchester United and the likes.
"Can you imagine the excitement of Kuala Lumpur playing Jakarta and Singapore? That's what the J-League is about.
Yet the Malaysian, who also owns the Singapore Slingers basketball team and founded the Asean Basketball League that will start its second season later this year with two more teams, is planning one last big project: An Asean football league for clubs.
"My dream is to be involved in football somehow," said Fernandes. "I am trying to create an Asean league like I have done in basketball, because I think there is a tremendous opportunity to create one. But that would be it and after that I don't think I would be doing any more."
He is willing to put the whole project together, but the region's football administrators must decide if they want it.
"I have been doing this type of thing for awhile. This can be done very quickly, I started the basketball league in six months because the various administrators wanted it," he told MediaCorp. "So when the Asean Football Federation is ready, I will be ready because a lot of work has been done already."
Fernandes believes it will be as big as the rivalry between Singapore and states teams across the Causeway during the Malaysia Cup days.
"There is nothing like watching live entertainment and local rivalry is what people want. We don't have it and are forced to watch Chelsea and Manchester United and the likes.
"Can you imagine the excitement of Kuala Lumpur playing Jakarta and Singapore? That's what the J-League is about.
COMMENT - With all due respect to Mr Fernandez, a gent I admire, this is a non starter. He talks about the ASEAN Football Federation being ready and he talks about setting up an ASEAN Basketball League within six months. But he needs to get the local FAs on board and let's look at their track record in their own backyards.
Indonesia took how many months to confirm Alfred Reidl as coach. They still haven't decided whether to have promotion/relegation for last season.
In Thailand Buri Ram decided they wanted a football team despite already having one. They went for Army, they went for TOT before finally deciding on PEA.
Brunei got themselves kicked out of FIFA.
Malaysia is, umm, well Malaysia is Malaysia and they operate in a parallel universe where black is often white and obfuscation is an art form.
And to cap it all no, there will be no excitement if KL play Jakarta. Just like there is no excitement when Sriwijaya play Perlis or Muang Thong United play Tampines Rovers.
Now if he wants to go above the local FAs and create a league featuring 'new teams' then that would be fun. I hate franchieses but then I also hate government funding. Push the usual suspects to one side and start afresh!
# posted by Me @ 1:03 PM 
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Think you're wrong on this one Ant.
ASEAN League would be sensational. It would give a genuine chance to belong to a team that means something. One team representing Singapore, 3 from Malaysia, 4 from Indonesia, add 2 (or 3 from Thailand) and Vietnam and this is a real flyer.
Fernandez has often put his money where his mouth is -
but you are right about the need for the FA's to get behind it.
ASEAN League would be sensational. It would give a genuine chance to belong to a team that means something. One team representing Singapore, 3 from Malaysia, 4 from Indonesia, add 2 (or 3 from Thailand) and Vietnam and this is a real flyer.
Fernandez has often put his money where his mouth is -
but you are right about the need for the FA's to get behind it.
# posted by 
: 3:52 PM
: 3:52 PM
i do agree with it. but im thinking supranational. remember that cricket guy back in the 70s/80s?was it kerry packer?
a new broom driving it would be great...but will the dinosaurs go for it?
a new broom driving it would be great...but will the dinosaurs go for it?
What's wrong with franchises? It's worked for the USA and kind of/sort of in Australia. Rather have well run franchises then poorly run clubs. A "Tiger League" with franchises in cities below would be fantastic and have amazing marketing potential for sponsors.
Jakarta
Indonesia City #2 (Bandung,Surabaya)
Singapore
KL
Bangkok
Hanoi
HMC
Hong Kong (not ASEAN, but geographic fit)
Jakarta
Indonesia City #2 (Bandung,Surabaya)
Singapore
KL
Bangkok
Hanoi
HMC
Hong Kong (not ASEAN, but geographic fit)
I personally think it would be much easier just having a knockout tournament at the end of each season with the league and cup winners.
Anything more and it would start to kill off domestic leagues and the AFC wouldn't even allow this, not after all the work they have been doing recently
ASEAN would do well to get AFC onboard to even turn it into a regional ACL qualifier.
Anything more and it would start to kill off domestic leagues and the AFC wouldn't even allow this, not after all the work they have been doing recently
ASEAN would do well to get AFC onboard to even turn it into a regional ACL qualifier.
"Can you imagine the excitement of Kuala Lumpur playing Jakarta and Singapore? That's what the J-League is about.
To be honest, no, I can't. I agree with you. I'm sure you can tell me how many people showed up when SAFFC played Sriwijaya FC in ACL qualifier.
Last year, when Indonesia played Singapore in friendly at National Stadium, it was merely empty stadium. All I could hear was Indonesian crowd, which I believed, was about 100 people.
I don't know if Air Asia earned huge revenue from ABL or there were big number of basketball fans were willing to travel around the region watching their favorite club. All I know was ABL clubs roaming around the region with Air Asia.
I guess the only excitement for Fernandez is to see his revenue getting bigger with realization of asean basketball league and asean football league. And, you can call me cynical.
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To be honest, no, I can't. I agree with you. I'm sure you can tell me how many people showed up when SAFFC played Sriwijaya FC in ACL qualifier.
Last year, when Indonesia played Singapore in friendly at National Stadium, it was merely empty stadium. All I could hear was Indonesian crowd, which I believed, was about 100 people.
I don't know if Air Asia earned huge revenue from ABL or there were big number of basketball fans were willing to travel around the region watching their favorite club. All I know was ABL clubs roaming around the region with Air Asia.
I guess the only excitement for Fernandez is to see his revenue getting bigger with realization of asean basketball league and asean football league. And, you can call me cynical.
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