Jakarta Casual

It doesn't seem all that long ago that I was watching the AFC Cup Final between Bengaluru and Air Force Club in Qatar yet here we are on the verge of the 2017 edition starting,

In what surely must be a kick in the teeth for the nonsense dreams of an ASEAN Super League the revamped Asia wide competition will have one zone devoted purely to South East Asian sides meaning 12 sides from the region competing alongside each other with progress in the competition the carrot. Surely something more meaningful than the vision of an ambitious couple of suits who have offered little concrete in how their ASL would look.

No Indonesian sides despite FIFA lifting their suspension/ The PSSI didn't get round to entering any teams despite the invite sitting in some in tray for days on end.

Also with Thailand having AFC Champions League ambitions their clubs will also be absent from the competition.

Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar will also have clubs in the mix for a place in the ACL!

The following teams will play off first for a place in the ACL. If they fail they can then enter the AFC Cup

Johor Darul Ta'zim, Ha Noi T&T, Yadanarbon, Global, Tampines Rovers.

The following teams enter the AFC Cup group stage

Than Quang Ninh, Felda United, Magwe, Ceres, Lanexang United

The following teams enter the qualifying play offs

Home United, Lao Toyota, Phnom Penh Crown, Boeung Ket Angkor

The following teams are on stand by

SHB Da Nang, Yangon United, Kedah, Loyola Meralco Sparks, Geylang International

The journey has started for some teams from places like Bhutan but as far as we are concerned the action begins at the end of January.

30/01 Phnom Penh Crown v Home United
31/01 Boeung Ket Angkor v Lao Toyota

The second legs will be played 7/02. I do like the idea of catching two games in two days in Phnom Penh!

The groups will be announced tomorrow and I will hopefully update then,,,