SAFF Thread

Discussion in 'Asian Football Confederation' started by druryfire, Jul 10, 2009.

  1. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    A look at the new make up of the Pakistan Premier League

    A total of eight teams vying to play in the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) expected to start in 2012 under the AFC Vision Asia programme have successfully achieved legal status.

    The two most recent registered teams are Afghan Chaman Club and Pakistan Navy FC, which have joined the ranks of KRL FC, PMC Athletico, Naushki FC, Pakistan Air Force FC, Young Blood FC and PEL FC, all of which were registered as of February this year.

    Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) General Secretary Lt. Col. (R) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi has said that the PFF aims to have all PPL teams registered as legal entities because this will help develop professional football in Pakistan.

    Historically, Pakistani football teams have been dominated by companies, government departments and organisations such as the Pakistan Army, Navy and others.

    However, to develop football in Pakistan requires the teams to stand alone as legal entities as required by the Clubs Licensing Regulations formulated by AFC Vision Asia Department to help develop football in AFC members associations in the Vision Asia fold.

    Vision Asia is the AFC’s continental football development programme focusing on 11 elements such as refereeing, marketing and competitions. Pakistan is one of several member associations taking part in Vision Asia.

    http://www.the-afc.com/en/football-...339-eight-pakistan-clubs-achieve-legal-status
     
  2. napolisoccer

    napolisoccer Member

    NYCFC - Napoli
    Feb 20, 2005
    Napoli
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
  3. ashindia

    ashindia Member

    Apr 14, 2009
    India,Hyderabad
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    India
  4. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    Good decision, I think New Delhi would attract more spectators, certainly more Maldivian fans would be able to attend the matches, which is a good thing as our team has a tendency to go on hiatus whenever they realize they're playing away from home.

    And it's a nice stadium too, with all the renovation it underwent for the Commonwealth Games. The only downside is the running track...
     
  5. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    I just wish there was more Hype about the Cup... basically South Asian Federation need to do more work to improve the quality of these nations in order for them to become a force in Asia overall... I know its tough but not impossible..
     
  6. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    The cup is organised by a company called the World Sport Group, they also organise the ASEAN Championships.

    Downside from WSG is that they appear to leave all the media stuff the federations, not an issue in ASEAN region as they have a website, but in the SAFF world, not even a website that Im aware of, and this is the 21st century.
     
  7. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    It's not just the media coverage that is below par, but also the organisation of the football associations. India is clearly the best in this area, as they have begun a revamp of their football from grassroots level to the very top. In Maldives, we are as passionate about football as a nation can get, but unfortunately our FA handles our national sport like trash. We have a politician in charge of the FAM, and he spends more time hyping up our football rather than working to improve it, as you would expect from a politician. The media coverage is alright, with local newspapers and fansites covering the game, but our youth development program is poor to say the least; the talented kids who are desperate to ply their trade in the youth system are overlooked to those who can afford it. Just look at our recent U-16 team's results for proof. It was only recently when the public woke up and realised the dire situation we're in, with the terrible performance away at Iran and the embarrassment we suffered at the Indian Ocean Island Games. You'll notice that there's a similar situation in other countries. Nepal too, suffers from a lack of organisation. Bhutan does not have the resources to take their football forward, Bangladesh have switched their interest to cricket and Sri Lanka appears to have given up on football altogether. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a lot of potential, but they need to put more effort into improving their local leagues rather than relying on their respective diaspora communities to nurture young talent.

    In short, a lot of work needs to be done by all the football associations, starting from grassroots level to their media coverage. Oh and kick out the politicians.
     
  8. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
  9. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    http://www.maldivesoccer.net/v4/?page=story&id=3986

    The teams have been seeded:

    Top seeds

    India
    Maldives

    Second seeds

    Bangladesh
    Sri Lanka

    Unseeded

    Nepal
    Pakistan
    Bhutan
    Afghanistan

    The seeding is based on the performance of the 2009 tournament. I think Nepal has a great chance of progressing the group stage this time if they're placed in the same group as Sri Lanka, who have been unbelievably poor in the last couple of years. Also, good opportunity for India, Maldives and Nepal to test their squads before the AFC Challenge Cup.
     
  10. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    I'd like to see Pakistan face Bangladesh again just to see if there is a case to change the World Cup qualifying process. Bangladesh beat Pakistan at home and drew away. If Pakistan win on neutral soil, then surely this crys for AFC/FIFA to change round one from a two legged knockout. If Bangladesh win, then it might tell us that Pakistan aren't good enough and didn't deserve a prolonged World Cup qualification campaign.

    Interested to see how Afghanistan will get on again. Also,what team are India sending this time?
     
  11. ashindia

    ashindia Member

    Apr 14, 2009
    India,Hyderabad
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    India
    India will be sending senior team,we seriously need some ranking points and we are preparing for the tournament with good friendlies lined-up in November.

    Squad will be obviously based on performances from Federation Cup and first few rounds of I-League.
     
  12. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    That's good to know. Will be interesting to see how your post-Asian Cup team fare against us nobodies :D
     
  13. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    FAM reveals the roster of the national team's preparation:

    http://www.maldivesoccer.net/v4/?page=story&id=3993

    I like the change in FAM's mentality over the last couple of months. Previously our "preparations" for big tournaments consisted of a hastily arranged friendly against Malaysia or Singapore, then running off to the big stage all ruffled and out of breath.

    It seems that the barrage of criticism they faced from the general public, and the threats from our local clubs to take action against them was the essential kick up the backside that the higher-ups of FAM needed.
     
  14. anzhi

    anzhi New Member

    Apr 2, 2011
    Buryatia
    Club:
    Fenerbahce SK
    nikki ahamed was playing in chelsea fc and panushanth kulenthiran in roma.but i cant find any information about this footballers.where are they playing in know?

    Edit:Where is Nepali footballer Rohit Chand playing for?
     
  15. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    Just as a matter of personal interest, the Wikipedia page on Pakistan has a record of Minor tournaments Pakistan have taken part in. Winning competitions in 2005 and in 2008.

    Does anyone know what these tournaments are?

    In 2008 for example it says they won a tournament hosted in Nepal, they only ever played 2 games in Nepal that year, winning 1 and losing 1 against Nepal, are they classing these as winning some obscure competition?

    Also, they have a Colombo Cup on their page. Can anyone add more detail for this? Why it was started? It was played between Pakistan, India, Burma and Ceylon.
     
  16. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    lol
     
  17. anzhi

    anzhi New Member

    Apr 2, 2011
    Buryatia
    Club:
    Fenerbahce SK
    do you know any informaiton??
     
  18. jonny63

    jonny63 Member+

    Feb 17, 2005
    Norway
  19. jonny63

    jonny63 Member+

    Feb 17, 2005
    Norway
    Livescores got Turkmenistan U21 vs Maldives U21 3-2 today ?

    Anybody who can confirm this friendly ? Nothing on maldivesoccer
     
  20. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    Look what I stumbled upon. The top 6 goals of the SAFF Championship.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuEP8AQkYqc"]SAFF Cup 2011 Top and Best 6 Goals!!! - YouTube[/ame]
     
  21. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    Just thinking out of the box, but what would be the general opinion if the SAFF championship was played outside of the SAFF region? For example in England or Germany for example?

    We nearly had the clash of the titans series between India and Pakistan in England last year, to be cancelled, but a 8 team tournament played over 10 -14 days in cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford with big Asian populations seeing their nations for the first time in something serious, what do you think?
     
  22. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    Interesting idea as it would help to boost the popularity of South Asia footie over there and perhaps encourage British Asians to ply their trade in our leagues.

    It's a shame that the India-Pakistan match was called off; I would've loved to see what kind of crowds would've been drawn to it.

    India and Pakistan did play last year here in Malaysia during the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. Malaysians of South Asian descent, and expatriate South Asians are usually very well-versed and passionate about football but I was bitterly disappointed to find out that the match was watched by a meagre crowd of only 100. That could possibly be a stumbling block for your idea.
     
  23. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Was the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier match between India and Pakistan even marketed in Malaysia. I doubt it was. That could be the reason. I bet if you market it in England you are sure to get fans but to be safe I would recommend using lower tier stadiums.

    BTW how could this work. Sure having 3 games in England is fine during the season but a whole tournament during the season. Cant see that happening. Maybe the could do it here in the United States/Canada where we have a huge South Asian population. Have the games in Toronto, New Jersey, Florida and a few other places with South Asians in it. Hoping NJ, would love to go see India.

    BTW has anyone ever thought of making an SAFF XI and playing games during the European Pre-Season. Sure it wont count at all and may be a waste of time but at least it gives our best South Asians a chance to prove themselves in front of scouts.

    My Indians of choice: Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Subrata Pal, Raju Gaikwad and Lalrindika Ralte

    5 from each country should be enough (at least)
     
  24. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England

    Like you say, it would give the very best South Asians an opportunity that they have never had before. And again, like you say fundamental it could be a waste of time, but it would help player development.

    But really, SAFF nations all need to be on board. Some nations simply don't appear to do anything, possibly lack of money which a SAFF XI would help on, but I would say the bulk of the team would be from India (if they want a competitive team) and all this would do is hamper the Indian programme, which I do think AIFF work well with. For instance they do send them to camps which is more than can be side for most nations and they ar enow starting to get them friendlies agaisnt the next tier of teams. If you was to suddenly bring in SAFF XI then I would suggest that it would work for a Pakistan, Bangladesh but would harm India for instance.
     
  25. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Maybe if India make the Asian Cup in 2015 one of the friendlies can be India vs SAFF XI. Yes you are right though, dont expect countries like Bhutan to give players worthy of a spot.
     

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