Agree. I thought the idea of a under-16 SAFF Cup was brilliant. The SAFF by around 2015 should have for men the SAFF Cup, the SAFF U19 Championship, SAFF U16 Championship. U23 for the South Asian Games.
Here's an article on the contrasting state of football in Pakistan. A German ground hooper recently went to Karachi to game played in what he could count on his hands and the contrast to games being played in Chaman that get 15,000 - 20,000 http://www.footballpakistan.com/2013/01/fc-bayern-munchen-fan-coordinator-visits-karachi/ http://www.footballpakistan.com/2012/11/the-need-for-artificial-pitches/#comment-8925 P.s love the photos in the 2nd article, there like photos from the 80's!!
Its amazing that Pakistan have a place where football spectators throng to but I am just wondering... do they pay? This is my problem when it comes to the I-League where I hear about great crowds yet no pay.
I doubt they pay. Somehow I just can't see that happening. Which makes me think that if the clubs were wise (I doubt they are) then they would have food and drink on sale to make a few bucks. I love the way that the spectators appear to sit right on the touchline. Seriously, my local league even ropes off the pitch to give the players a bit of breathing space. Anyway, it does appear that they are mad for football in Chaman, now just need to get Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi on board.
That will take awhile. I have noticed that in most countries that are developing the best markets for crowds are the smaller towns like Chaman because, well, to be frank, what else is their. In India their is no other activities in states like Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim etc so that is why football is the best sport over their and can attract 30,000 a game easy however the bigger, city like areas tend to take more time for some reason. I don't know why but that is the way I observe it.
May happen in 2014. The Indian Olympic Association is suspended by the IOC so the South Asian games are postponed. Nepal has expressed desire to host them but only Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have proper facilities apparently.
I still hope the Saff Youth Cup is held prior to the AFC Youth qualifiers, a great initiative to give these 8 nations prepering as they rarely prepare for any tournement (most of them)
Th 2013 Pakistan Premier leaue will feature the following clubs: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), KESC, Muslim FC, Army, PAF, National Bank, Navy, PIA, Chaman’s Afghan FC, Nushki’s Baloch FC, WAPDA, Habib Bank, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and the newly promoted outfits Pak Afghan Clearing Agency (PACA) of Chaman and Faisalabad’s University FC. Six teams will be relegated, to make a 12 team campaign for the 2014 season. Things starting to happen now in Pakistan.. http://www.footballpakistan.com/2013/06/twelve-teams-to-feature-in-ppfl/
It's funny, just reading about the Sri Lankan league on the statistics website www.rsssf.com and they have expanded from 12 clubs to 20 this year!! Two groups of 10, top four in each enter the next phase. Does anyone know much about Sri Lankan domestic league football??
Since we know jack about it, it could be Tika Taka type football on offer every match day played on beach like pitches
If it is Tiki-taka then it is boring. I don't know why but I find Tika-whatever boring. Pass, pass, pass, pass back to defense, repeat.
That wasn't there best team. The champions were Ratnam and they didn't play Presidents Cup in 2012 and 2013 when they could have. In fact Cambodian sides aren't terrible. Phnom Penh Crown made the final in 2011.
http://www.footballpakistan.com/2013/07/south-asia-could-have-its-own-champions-league-by-2014-dawn/ South Asian champions league could start in 2014
I thought I posted something yesterday in this thread that doesn't appear to be here, but SAFF are disappointed with India..India aren't moving in the direction they want to have such an event, to the point that SAFF want all member associations playing or not host at all. Same thing has happened in the ASEAN region. To be honest though, i'd prefer a regional competition, crown a champion, and that champion goes to Asian Champions League (re-formatted version) - do away with AFC Presidents Cup for example, semi finalists go to AFC Cup - this kind of thing. Wouldn't it be great for a regional club championship? But maybe first, have sustainable domestic leagues? Pakistan want Club Championship but can't form a suitable domestic league to begin with. Walk before run comes to mind
It looks like AIFF are stamping their authority on choosing a venue for the next SAFF Championship. Although World Sports Group wants the matches to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, AIFF are very reluctant to do it again. We as fans don't want to see the matches being played at an empty stadium (although AIFF are, predictably, more worried about the cost of renting the JN Stadium for the course of the tournament). Instead, AIFF say there's a high chance of the matches being played in Chandrasekaran Stadium in Trivandrum, Kerala, which is the southernmost state of India. If this is true, it's good for Maldivian fans, because we have a huge population there, also direct flights from Male' does no harm as well. Bangalore (also a popular destination for Maldivians) and Goa have also expressed interest, but AIFF seem to have their eyes set on Kerala. We'll see...
Pakistan to host 2017 SAFF Championship http://www.footballpakistan.com/2013/09/pakistan-to-host-saff-events-the-news/