AFF seeks to lift ASEAN soccer level via LG Cup

AFF seeks to lift ASEAN soccer level via LG Cup

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The inaugural LG Cup ASEAN Club Championship, which Indonesia
will host next month, was officially launched here on Friday as
part of an effort by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to
improve the level of play in the countries of the region.

Twelve clubs, which were either 2002 or 2003 champions in
their respective national leagues, are set to take part in the
championship, which will be staged in Jakarta and Gresik, East
Java. The matches will run from July 13 to July 26.

"The ASEAN Club Championship will allow teams in the region to
move up to a higher level," AFF Vice President Ibrahim Othman
said during a media briefing after the launching of the event at
Le Meridien Hotel.

"The event is part of our program to develop football in the
respective (ASEAN) countries. We hope that the clubs in the
region will be able to match any club in Asia," he said.

Friday's gathering featured officials of the Football
Association of Indonesia (PSSI), representatives from the
participating clubs, players, and the tournament's sponsor LG
Electronics.

All countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) have representatives. As the host, Indonesia is
represented by 2002 champion, Petrokimia Putra, and runner-up
Persita Tangerang, while East Bengal of India will join the
tournament as an invitee.

"The next nearest region is South Asia, whose best club
appears to be East Bengal," Othman said regarding the inclusion
of the New Delhi-based club in the championship.

Three players were presented during the gathering: Zaenal Arif
of Persita, Zaenal Ikhwan of Petrokimia and Terdsak Chaiman of
Bec-Tero Sassana. (not Vietnam's Gialia as previously reported).
Bec-Tero was Thailand's 2002 champion.

Petro and Persita will play in the ASEAN championship
following contrasting performances in the 2003 league. Persita
currently tops the 18-team league while Petro is struggling
midway down the table.

Terdsak Chaiman used his recent winning run with the national
team in Jakarta in the 2002 Tiger Cup as a motivating booster
ahead of the club championship, saying he was keen to do it
again, now with his club Bec-Tero Sassana.

Although it finished runner-up in the 2003 season behind Krung
Thai Bank, Bec-Tero must be one of the favorites in the
championship given the fact that its line-up features seven Thai
national team players.