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)