AFF seeks to lift ASEAN soccer level via LG Cup<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The inaugural LG Cup ASEAN Club Championship, which Indonesia
\nwill host next month, was officially launched here on Friday as
\npart of an effort by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to
\nimprove the level of play in the countries of the region.<\/p>\n
Twelve clubs, which were either 2002 or 2003 champions in
\ntheir respective national leagues, are set to take part in the
\nchampionship, which will be staged in Jakarta and Gresik, East
\nJava. The matches will run from July 13 to July 26.<\/p>\n
\"The ASEAN Club Championship will allow teams in the region to
\nmove up to a higher level,\" AFF Vice President Ibrahim Othman
\nsaid during a media briefing after the launching of the event at
\nLe Meridien Hotel.<\/p>\n
\"The event is part of our program to develop football in the
\nrespective (ASEAN) countries. We hope that the clubs in the
\nregion will be able to match any club in Asia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Friday's gathering featured officials of the Football
\nAssociation of Indonesia (PSSI), representatives from the
\nparticipating clubs, players, and the tournament's sponsor LG
\nElectronics.<\/p>\n
All countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) have representatives. As the host, Indonesia is
\nrepresented by 2002 champion, Petrokimia Putra, and runner-up
\nPersita Tangerang, while East Bengal of India will join the
\ntournament as an invitee.<\/p>\n
\"The next nearest region is South Asia, whose best club
\nappears to be East Bengal,\" Othman said regarding the inclusion
\nof the New Delhi-based club in the championship.<\/p>\n
Three players were presented during the gathering: Zaenal Arif
\nof Persita, Zaenal Ikhwan of Petrokimia and Terdsak Chaiman of
\nBec-Tero Sassana. (not Vietnam's Gialia as previously reported).
\nBec-Tero was Thailand's 2002 champion.<\/p>\n
Petro and Persita will play in the ASEAN championship
\nfollowing contrasting performances in the 2003 league. Persita
\ncurrently tops the 18-team league while Petro is struggling
\nmidway down the table.<\/p>\n
Terdsak Chaiman used his recent winning run with the national
\nteam in Jakarta in the 2002 Tiger Cup as a motivating booster
\nahead of the club championship, saying he was keen to do it
\nagain, now with his club Bec-Tero Sassana.<\/p>\n
Although it finished runner-up in the 2003 season behind Krung
\nThai Bank, Bec-Tero must be one of the favorites in the
\nchampionship given the fact that its line-up features seven Thai
\nnational team players.<\/p>",
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