West Asia Iraq: Duhok Al Talaba Arbil Jordan: Al Faisaly Al Wehdat Kuwait: Al Qadsia Kuwait Sports Club Al Nasr Lebanon: Al Ahed Al Ansar Oman: Al Suwaiq Fanjaa or Al Orouba Syria: Al Jaish Al Kamarah Uzbekistan: Nasaf Qarshi Shurtan Yemen: Al Saqr Al Tilal East Asia Hong Kong: South China TSW Pegasus India: Kingfisher East Bengal Indonesia: Persipura Jayapura Maldives: V.B Victory Singapore: Tampines Rovers Thailand: Chonburi Vietnam: Hanoi T&T Song Lam Nghe An http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournamen...-league/31688-stage-set-for-acl-afc-cup-draws
Group F: ACL Play-off #2 TSW Pegasus (Hong Kong) Song Lam Nghe An (Vietnam) V. B. (Maldives) Group H South China (Hong Kong) Chonburi (Thailand) Kingfisher East Bengal (India) Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia) Neither HK clubs were given easy draws. But I still expect South China to win its group, particularly if Nicky Butt signs for the club. Hopefully TSW Pegasus does not get Muangthong United. I think TSW Pegasus will find it tough but they might still get through, despite their inexperience at this level.
THE GROUPINGS WEST Group A ACL Play-off 2 (West), Al Ansar (LIB), Nasaf (UZB), Al Tilal (YEM) Group B Al Qadsia (KUW), ACL Play-off 1 (West), Al Saqr (YEM), Shurtan (UZB) Group C Al Faisaly (JOR), Duhok (IRQ), Al Nasr (KUW), Al Jaish (SYR) Group D Al Suwaiq (OMA), Al Wehdat (JOR), Al Talaba (IRQ), Kuwait SC (KUW) Group E Al Ahed (LIB), Fnjaa or Al Oruba (OMA), Al Karamah (SYR), Arbil (IRQ) EAST Group F ACL Play-off 2 (East), TSW Pegasus (HKG), Song Lam Nghe An (VIE), VB (MDV) Group G ACL Play-off 1 (East), Tampines Rovers (SIN), Victory (MDV), Hanoi T&T (VIE), Group H South China (HKG), Chonburi (THA), Kingfisher East Bengal (IND), Persipura Jayapura (IDN) http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-cup/31697-afc-cup-tough-encounters-in-the-offing
I think they need to be in the East really, which makes sending Al Ain all the way to the Est for a playoff absurd. Hope Al Ain make the cut really and then pull out of the group stages if they can't qualify after match day 3 because of travel arrangements, would show the AFC!!
Actually I don't understand why Singapore only has one team in AFC Cup. They used to have 1 in ACL play-off and 1 in AFC Cup. Now I know they withdraw from ACL but they don't get a AFC Cup place instead? Also I think the East can be boosted a bit by allowing teams from China or Australia to enter. The 5th placed team of CSL and 3rd place team in A-League will be interesting additions.
No team from Singapore won anything last year as all the foreign clubs took the winners spots. Although the AFC say Tampines were invited, I can only assume this is because they came 2nd and that the Singapore FA did not submit any team forward, so AFC invited ratehr than demanded they put a club forward. Not sure about adding Chinese and Australian clubs, it would make it rather lopsided in my opinion.
How come Bahraini clubs keep pulling out? This year it's Al Ahli, in 2010 it was Al Muharraq (who got replaced by Al Riffa).
That's really strange... I thought they had this policy where even if a foreign club won, the best Singapore team would still be submitted by FAS to take part in AFC Cup. Maybe they don't want Pan-Asian competition anymore? Too costly?
It is strange, but to me that is the case, no submission from FAS, so AFC invited. It seem's Singapore as a league don't want to play any part, same as Malaysia, but some teams from these leagues do.
South China's three foreigners are: Mateja Kezman, Nicky Butt and Joel. No Asian player. TSW Pegasus's three foreigners are: Leandro Carrijo, Itaparica and Wisdom Fofo. Asian players is Chen Po-Liang.
South China are clubbed in an interesting group with East Bengal FC(India),Chonburi FC(Thailand) and Persipura Jayapura(Indonesia). All the 4 teams are good and can't really predict which 2 teams will progress to knock out rounds.
yeah this is a group of death , thx God one of Indonesian TV will broadcastthe first match of Persipura which is against South China on wednesday. Can't waitto see Persipura playing against South China
Tampines Rovers have nt brought Aliff Shaffein to Maldives for the AFC Cup against Victory He has been left in Spore as the club wanted him to past the Beep Test first Passing the Beep test will allow him to play in the S-league That is more important as S-league have started and the deadline for the passing of Beep is by end of March.
Today Song Nam Nghe An will play TSW Pegasus. Coach Chan Hiu-Ming is hoping for a point and harbour hopes that Leandro Carrijo and Itaparica will find space and score for the club. South China training hard for the game. Pesipura already in HK. They trained as well as went shopping yesterday... I bought tickets for tomorrow's game between South China and Pesipura. It will be shown live on NOW TV 100 and 633 channels.