Asia world of soccer to have Super League
Asia world of soccer to have Super League
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) announced here on Tuesday that after this
year, the Asian Champions Cup and Winners Cup would be staged as
the Asian Super League.
"Starting in 2002, the Asian Champions Cup and Winners Cups
will be officially changed to the Super League. Matches will take
place after the World Cup in South Korea and Japan next year,"
AFC official Alex Soosay said.
Soosay said the decision was made to give countries such as
Vietnam and Thailand, which are not traditional soccer powers,
the opportunity to take part in the competition.
The Super League will allow each country to send two teams to
the competition. "Currently, only the winner of each Asian
countries' league can compete in the Asian Champions Cup while
the runners-up go to the Winners Cup. With the Super League, both
the winners and runners-up can compete."
The Asian Super League will follow the system used in the
European Cup. Teams will be divided into several groups and they
must compete in a round-robin qualifying round.
On the field, Jubilo Iwata of Japan, Shandong Lunen of China
and Samsung Suwon Blue Wings of South Korea worked out at
Mattoanging Stadium here ahead of Wednesday's start of the Asian
Champions Cup East Asian zone quarterfinals.
Heavy favorite Jubilo protested the condition of the field,
which has pebbles and garbage along the sidelines.
"We hope the organizers can clean up the field before
tomorrow's match because the pebbles could injure our players,"
said Jubilo coach Gjokica Hadzievski.
The deputy chairman of the organizing committee, Sukman
Burhanuddin, said they would clean up the field as soon as
possible.
Jubilo also complained about the presence of PSM Makassar
coach Syamsuddin Umar at their training session.
Tickets for Wednesday's games are being sold for between Rp
20,000 (US$2) and Rp 100,000, though there are reports of people
paying double the face value for a chance to attend the matches.
Jubilo will play the Blue Wings in the opening match on
Wednesday, and PSM and Shandong will face off in the nightcap.
(27)