SAFF Thread

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

  1. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    Saff nations have not done well in the recent Challenge Cup,

    The heads of the region need to address this, the region is becoming known to be 'extremely' weak and this is not good for their development.
     
  2. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think a more youthful SAFF Cup would be nice. Instead of having the SAFF Cup be the normal SAFF Cup have it be a under-21 competition and thus more exposure to the young players who are better than the seniors.

    Also what about an SAFF Club Competition. The 3rd place winners of each league play each other in an SAFF type competition or we can do what happens in CONCACAF and have SAFF Club Championship winner qualify for the AFC Champions League (or AFC Cup), that would mean that the 1st and 2nd placed teams from each SAFF country would play in the SAFF Club Championship first in order to decide who moves on.
     
  3. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    Well, we have the SAFF Cup which is for the senior side, the SAF Games which is an u23s tournament, and SAFF have also introduced SAFF Youth CHampionships which is for the U17 and U20 sides gearing up for the AFC Youth Championship qualification..... so i dont think changing the SAFF Cup to a u21 comp would make things better as we already have a number of youth cups.

    I think a bit of money needs to be invested to the region to the grassroots level, and having said that, have some sort of agreement with other regions in which the SAFF Cup winner can play in other regional tournament? although other regions might not agree, but SAFF need to be vocal and try to squeeze a spot for the winner to play in the West Asia or ASEAN tournements...

    I doubt this would be agreed upon as the AFC Presidents cup winner dont get a spot in the AFC Cup nor the AFC Champions league. I would stick with the SAFF Club championships purely so the SAFF clubs can become a stronger force in the AFC Presidents cup....
     
  4. napolisoccer

    napolisoccer Member

    NYCFC - Napoli
    Feb 20, 2005
    Napoli
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    What is the actual situation of the Pakistan and Bangladesh leagues ?
     
  5. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Paki league has a new logo that is all. They still use Army and Bank teams so basically the players are not full-time (at least most of them arnt).

    I dont know about the B.League (Bangladesh)
     
  6. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    No longer called the B League but now the Bangladeshi league. BFF thought calling it B meant it was 2nd class, and they were right to change it as it's 3rd class really!!

    Bangladeshi football in general is just going backwards. Season has just started aswell. Practically a Dhaka league again.

    As for Pakistan, it's a 30 game season rushed into 3 months. Teams play practically every 3 days and then nothing happens for the 9 months after the season finishes.

    I've even seen photos of spectators leaning against goalposts during matches - thats how organised it is.
     
  7. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    \

    lol
     
  8. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OMG. That is so bad. Hope for South Asian Football is slim.
     
  9. stellarboy

    stellarboy Member

    Jan 14, 2012
    Davao City
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Philippines
    While hopes for South Asian football is slim, why don't they emulate the Philippines, the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup 3rd Placers, and their national team manager Dan Palami? As cited in this Football Pakistan article, they mention the recent success story of the Azkals in connection with their struggle to find a better team manager.

    http://www.footballpakistan.com/2012/03/pak-football-team-needs-a-proper-manager/

    How has Pakistani football improved so far with Zaviša Milosavljević? I have observed that it's been a struggle recruiting players from local leagues and abroad, plus some problems with the financial and technical assistance for the national team, aside from those of the local league and the grassroots programs.
     
  10. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    Pakistani football in general is well, just not there.

    When did you last see the national team play a friendly? And I mean a properly recorded friendly? That's all the way back to 2008 against Malaysia.

    That's how organised they are. They only ever play official tournaments and i'm sure they wouldn't bother if they could get away with it.

    I know it's hard for them to get teams to come to Pakistan - the country in my opinion always seems so uncertain, but i'm sure they could if they really wanted to, get themselves invited to a Long Teng Cup or even have the odd official SEA region tour playing the likes of Myanmar, Cambodia and then to top it off a stronger SEA team.

    A nation that could offer a lot as shown in the SAFF U16 Championship that will sadly disappear off the radar.
     
  11. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Coming from an Indian it is true. Pakistan has a lot of potential but they need to be better organized. Thing is though is that while many see Pakistan as a cricket country even there cricket league is amateurish. Pakistan is just not a good sports country.
     
  12. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    So, if we are to ever have a SAFF Club Championship, what would we actually get from our members.

    Afghanistan - ?
    Bangladesh - Sheikh Jamal DhC
    Bhutan - Yeedzin
    India - Salgaocar
    Maldives - VB
    Nepal - Nepal Police Club
    Pakistan - KRL
    Sri Lanka - Ratnam

    So, all current champions from the last campaigns. All of whom have also failed in international competition or are likely about to fail.

    Some of these names you will notice always appear to be at the top end of their domestic league. VB, Nepal Police and Bhutan's Yeedzin seem to be forever champions in something.

    Now, it's great that the AFC have their emerging and developing competitions since 2004/2005 but we are now in 2012 and each nation hasn't developed or got any better on the international club scene. How to make them better?

    SAFF moot the club championship, but for me, this wouldn't help develope anything, they would throw all teams into two groups and rush through a week long tournament which generally the fittest,luckiest club side would prevail.

    What I propose to SAFF is a regional league compeition played by the winners of each domestic compeition.

    *8 teams playing each other once making 7 rounds

    *That makes 4 games per round played at a single location on a rotation. One week at the home of the Bangladeshi winners, next week in Sri Lanka etc.

    *What this means is that each host team puts on 4 games at one venue over the weekend, say for example, Salgaocar v KRL @ 4pm followed by Ratnam v VB at 6:30pm Saturday, the next 4 teams play on the Sunday at the same times. Fans of that host team get to see 4 attractive games over a weekend.

    *As theirs only 7 rounds, doesn't need to be rushed through in 7 weeks, can take 14-16 weeks for instance.

    *What does this bring? Each nation gets a turn to host 4 high calibre matches. As well as on field development, off field development and organisation is obtained to help clubs grow.

    *Of course 8 nations are represented but only 7 rounds, someone has to sit out being a host (probably Afghanistan)

    Same could be applied for SAFF Championship aswell, where some nations would struggle to host a whole event but could stage a weekend set of 4 games.
     
  13. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Take India out of that tournament Drury. Right now we have the most professional, more parity league in South Asia. And with the reports that we could reach 16 or 10 clubs next season there is a chance that each team in India would play in 30 or more games. So I doubt the Indian champions would want to play 30+ games and then play in the SAFF League.

    Also Indian clubs at the end of the season are to busy with player signings and contracts. They have no time for tournaments.

    Just add Afghanistan.
     
  14. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    I don't know the state of the Indian State leagues these days, but surely an extra 7 games isn't asking too much when they use to play I.League and State League.

    Maybe winners of I.League 2 would be more acceptable or Durand Cup winners? Any SAFF competition without an Indian team is not a SAFF competition. SAFF needs India, no matter who they put forward as the drawer at this moment.
     
  15. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree. Maybe you can put the tournament in the winter (colder, Sri Lanka in July, that is hot) and also allow the third place I-League team into the tournament. The 3rd place I-League team is as good as the champions of other SAFF nations. So Champions get AFC Cup Group Stage. 2nd gets AFC Cup qualifiers and 3rd get SAFF Club Cup.

    Also in terms of state leagues...

    - Shillong Lajong only play there Reserves in the state league.
    - HAL plays in the state league but winter.
    - Mumbai plays the u19 squad in the state league
    - EB, MB, and Prayag play in the state league (Prayag do a mix of youth and first)
    - All 4 Goan clubs play a mixture of first and youth in the state league
    - Air India play a full first in state league but that is because there players are all youth players
    - Pune FC play there Academy in the state league.
     
  16. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    I think we should totally disregard a 'league' within the SAF region clubs. Most if not all SAFF nations do not have the funds to organise friendlies during the FIFA dates, and try to have match preperation before major tournements, i highly doubt that the clubs will be able to afford to play a mini league.....

    Funding has always been a main issue with these nations, and only compete is tournements they 'have too' otherwise they would even withdraw from them (as we have seen in the past with a few nations not entering youth and senior tournements)
     
  17. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    I totally agree. Funding is biggest issue in SAFF region.
     
  18. huhe888

    huhe888 Red Card

    Oct 3, 2007
    ...and in an under-21 friendly, Turkmenistan reportedly beat Maldives 3-2 in a "ghost match" -- neither country knew about the contest because it never actually happened, yet bookmakers still took action and fixers still profited...


    http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/st...t-prolific-criminal-match-fixer-espn-magazine


     
    jonny63 repped this.
  19. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    It's ok reporting stuff like that but they never soruced it, I'm guessing at who they aim the articles at that they themselves probably made the match up.

    In fact, because to the article itself only recently being written, it actually wouldn't surprise me if they meant the Turkmenistan 3:1 Maldives senior matchup recently played.
     
  20. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    Just reading an old magazine, back in 2003 there seemed to be a big push by Mohammed Bin Hamman to join the Central Asian nations into SAFF. The likes of Uzbekistan would have joined the fold.

    Would this have benefited SAFF football? If this was to have happened, we would now have a 12 team SAFF tournment or possibly a qualficiation phase or would this have killed SAFF identity as we know it?

    Of course, CAFF nations have never joined, but if this was mooted again, would you be for it or against it? Why?
     
  21. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    This debate is really old, CAFF nations joining SAFF. In essence it should of been done a long time ago and would just strengthen the region. If we think about it, more teams, different styles of play, however it really beats me that it has not been done yet...
     
  22. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
  23. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    CAFF and SAFF working together would be great. Would increase the play and give the small CAFF teams like Kyrgyzstan more games.
     
  24. Fureeku

    Fureeku Member

    Feb 9, 2011
    Maldives
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Maldives
    The same idea was raised by Johnny some months ago (I think it was before the 2011 SAFF Championship) and someone else, who wasn't even a follower of South Asian football came on here and threw a hissy fit. Apparently inviting the CAFF nations would ruin South Asian footie, not that he was able to provide us with any valid explanations.

    Personally I am all for including CAFF nations. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan need more matches and would definitely add a more competitive edge to the region, but the question is what should be done about Uzbekistan? They'll probably devalue the regional competitions (understandably so as they are head and shoulders above everyone else) and send their youth teams.
     
  25. Arsenalkid700

    Arsenalkid700 Member

    Aug 9, 2011
    New York City
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe the same as what Australia does for ASEAN... they dont play. Australia sends youth teams to the youth ASEAN competitions but they never send a team to the ASEAN Football Championship. At least not in 2012. As for hurt of SAFF nations if CAFF nations come in... how?
     

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