Jakarta Casual

Once again we will see a number of teams from the region competing in both the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup.

Indonesia – Arema (ACL), Sriwijaya (ACL Play Off), Persipura (AFC)

Thailand – Muang Thong United (ACL Play Off), Chonburi (AFC)

Singapore – Tampines Rovers (AFC)

Vietnam – Ha Noi (AFC), Song Lam Nghe An

Nobody from Malaysia!

The question is though is there any team from South East Asia that is able to match the powerhouses from the North and the Middle East? Muang Thong made a good fist of it this year in the AFC Cup but despite reaching the semi final their real target was the ACL.

The two time champions in the Thai Premier League look the best equipped of the teams from this region to make an impact this time around. First though they must go through a play off stage before they know which competition they will be in. of course in 2010 they famously missed out on the ACL after losing to SAFFC on penalties in the play offs.

This year they must first play Sriwijaya. The winner of that tie will then be up against Al Ain from the UAE with the winner going into the ACL. Lose the first play off and either Muang Thing United or Sriwijaya will be in the AFC Cup

The Thais have got deep pockets and will be looking to invest heavily ahead of the new season. They lost their influential midfielder Yaya mid season but they still had enough in the tank to win the title, reach the AFC Cup semi and be runners up in the FA Cup.

But all the money in the world will not help if they are subjected to another congested domestic season with endless pre season friendless, new competitions introduced half way through the campaign and then a sapping AFF Cup at the end of all that. Next season won’t be any easier with young players, aged Under 23, being liable for call ups for Thailand’s Pre Olympic Qualifying and the SEA Games on the calendar. Plus any daft friendlies against European teams that may get scheduled as well.

If they win the play off they will be drawn against Hangzhou Greentown, FC Seoul and Nagoya Grampus.

The only definite South East Asian representative in the ACL are Indonesia Super League champions Arema. Under coach Robert Alberts they passed their way to the title last season but such is the way in Indonesia he was allowed to leave and Miroslav Jamu has returned for a second spell.

Heavily reliant on the influence of Pierre Njanka, M Ridhuan and Noh Alam Shah Arema will be handicapped by the limit on the number of foreigners they can use in the ACL so either Roman Chmelo or Esteban could be forced to make way from their squad.

Defensive discipline will be vital. Indonesian football is a bit like foosball at times…there isn’t that much movement so defenders, faced against intelligent and mobile strikers tend to go into headless chicken mode at the earliest opportunity. Hence the importance of Njanka.

Drawn with Cerezo Osaka, Shandong Luneng and Jeonbuk,Arema’s only hope of progress lies in securing maximum points in front of their own fans at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang and hope for a draw perhaps in Shandong. But remembering the mullering Persipura got last year there are reasons to be pessimistic.

Sriwjaya are entering Asian competition for the third season on the trot. Last year they missed out on ACL football after being comfortably beaten 3-0 by SAFFC in a play off. In the AFC Cup they qualified from the group stage but were surprisingly defeated 4-1 at home by a normally shot shy Thai Port in Palembang.

They have a new coach, former Indonesian national team coach Ivan Kolev, but have seen many players leave in a pre season clear out. If they lose to Muang Thong United in the play off they will be in the AFC Cup again where they would be drawn with TSW Pegasus (Hong Kong), Aong Lam Nghe An and VB from the Maldives. Again, like Arema, home form will be crucial while points could be nicked in the Maldives or even Hong Kong.

Tampines Rovers are back in Asian football as Singapore’s sole representative following the FA’s baffling decision to keep foreign teams in their league at the expense of an ACL slot. Off the top of my head leagues in Australia, England and Scotland allow foreign teams to compete and I seem to recall the odd English team competing in the Welsh Cup in the past so I don’t get the AFC’s stand on this one beyond bullying.

The Stags are rapidly becoming a feeder team for the Indonesia Super League with the likes of Noh Alam Shah, M Riduan, Mustafic Fahruddin and Khairul Amri replacing their Singapore Dollars for Indonesian Rupiah.

Much then will depend on who is left but much is still uncertain with rumours that long serving coach Worawan being courted by Thai Premier League side Buriram PEA. Striker Aleksander Duric has already announced he will be quitting the national team but, despite being 40 years old, he remains incredibly fit with a stamina that puts many younger men to shame.

The Stags will be hoping that Qiu Li will remain free of injury to form a prolific partnership with Duric up front and that Hassan Sunny will remain with the club between the sticks.

Drawn against Sriwijaya/Muang Thong United, Victory Sports (Maldives) and Ha Noi (Vietnam) they face tow of their first three games away from home.

Unless Indonesian clubs have learned from the mistakes of past failures, and given continuing rumours of unpaid salaries that seems unlikely, it seems that South East Asia’s best chance of glory in 2011 lies with Muang Thong United and again I fear it would have to be in the AFC Cup.

The days of BEC Tero and Thai Farmers bank dominating the region are long gone.

Moving onto Malaysia…