 AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam making a point during the Workshop for CEOs of Professional Leagues in Bangkok on Saturday. The AFC President was addressing the Chief Executives of 12 top Asian Leagues here in the capital of Thailand on Saturday at the first Workshop for CEOs of Professional Leagues in Asia. Football Association of Thailand (FAT) President Dato Worawi Makudi, who is also a FIFA Executive Committee member, also attended the workshop. “Two or three years ago a meeting of Chief Executives of Asian leagues like this was unthinkable. But today you are all here and this is proof of the progress we are making,” said Bin Hammam in his opening speech. “The reports of the Special Mission Teams have been very positive and very encouraging and we have moved forward in the last two years. But we need to go further. “Success doesn’t come by coincidence. It comes through planning, hard efforts and patience. We need to gauge our strengths and weaknesses and work on the latter,” said Bin Hammam. “AFC is not less than any confederation. Today Asia has the economy, the potential and the passion for football. We (Asian football) have everything to be No 1 in the world. Don’t underestimate your potential. “You are the architects of your leagues but don’t stop at thinking only about your own leagues. Dream big…of spreading your football and professional practices to other countries. Only planning can make this happen,” added the AFC chief. FAT President Makudi said the workshop enabled the participants to come together and brainstorm for the good of the game. “You as the CEO are very important for the development of the game in Asia. Today you can meet each other and exchange ideas,” said Makudi, who also praised the AFC President’s initiative in ushering in an era of professionalism in the continent. UAE Football League CEO Carlo Nohra pointed out the vast changes in attitude brought about by the changes on professional lines AFC was insisting upon. “In the UAE the intention is to create a commercial base for clubs so that in the long run they can survive on their own without depending on government grants,” said Nohra. “The benefits of the professional leagues project is the formation of the UAE League and an organization that is legally empowered by the FA to run its affairs, and the income that is being generated by the league is going to the clubs.” AFC Tournament Director Tokuaki Suzuki said he was looking forward to more similar workshops in the future. “The key person for us is the league CEO and all the CEOs contributed their ideas in lifting the standards of the game in Asian and taking it outside the continent,” said Suzuki. “There are many more important topics and issues to be discussed and, considering that this was only our first meeting, I think the outcome was quite productive. http://www.the-afc.com/ |
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Pace of professionalisation hailed
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Asian refs focus in AFC conference
 Toshio Utsumi His main presentation will be a lecture entitled “2010 FIFA World Cup: The Referee’s Fitness Preparation - An In-Depth Explanation of Protocol and Methodologies” which will take place on March 18. The Japanese expert will also make two symposium appearances to present his findings entitled “2008-2010 Referees’ Fitness Data Analysis: Physical Data Summary Comparing FIFA and AFC” and “2010 FIFA World Cup Match Data Analysis: Physical Data Summary Comparing AFC and Other Confederations”. Utsumi is currently working in FIFA as a Refereeing Assistance Program (RAP) Physical Fitness Instructor and AFC Elite Referee Fitness Instructor. He has vast experience in conducting physical conditioning training programmes and holds a Master Degree in Physical Education Exercise and Sports Science specialising as an Athletic Trainer and a Bachelor of Science in Physiology from the University of North Carolina, USA. The AFC’s world-renowned conference has drawn the participation of some 400 delegates from around the world who are experts in health science and football medicine. |
Japan cancel friendly, plan charity tie
 Tokyo: Japan have cancelled a home international friendly scheduled for next week but said it would host a charity match to lift spirits after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.Japanese football bosses scrapped the tie against Montenegro on March 25 but said they hoped to go ahead with a planned fixture against another quake-hit nation, New Zealand, on March 29 and turn it into a charity event. The Samurai Blue, who won a record fourth AFC Asian Cup in January, had been due to play Montenegro in Shizuoka in central Japan and New Zealand at Tokyo's National Stadium. "We have made the decision by taking into account such factors as the unfolding extent of enormous damage, fears over 'lifeline' necessities including electricity, confusion in public transportation and the safety of the stadiums and the visitors," the Japan Football Association (JFA) said. The association said it was negotiating with New Zealand to stage the match on March 29 as planned but in Japan's second city of Osaka, far away from the devastated coast where a nuclear emergency is unfolding. "We hope to play New Zealand, which like Japan has also suffered damage from a big earthquake," said JFA president Junji Ogura. Ogura said that a domestic team would play the Samurai Blue if the All Whites opted out. National football coach Alberto Zaccheroni said he wanted to use the match in Osaka to lift spirits. "I want to encourage people in the affected areas as much as possible," the 57-year-old Italian said in a message from Italy. "I want to use this event as my first step to assist the affected people in their reconstruction drive." Japan captain and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe said he was willing to come home for the charity match. "We could unite as one and give full play to our potential at the World Cup and the Asian Cup because all of Japan cheered for us. I want to repay them," he said. A 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami waves on Friday devastated the coastal area northeast of Tokyo, and triggered a major emergency at the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant. Many high-profile sporting events including J-League matches and two AFC Champions League games this week, involving J-League sides Kashima Antlers and Nagoya Grampus, were also postponed. The J-League has decided to shut the first and second divisions for the rest of the month, with an extension of that suspension seen as likely. Meanwhile, Japan are still planning to take part in the Copa America, the South American championship, in July despite a possible clash with rescheduled J-League games. "Our plan to take part in the Copa America remains as it is now. We have not touched it," an FA official said. http://www.the-afc.com/ |
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Rajevac is new Qatar coach
Doha: Serbian Milovan Rajevac has signed a three-year deal to become the new coach of AFC Asian Cup 2011 hosts Qatar. Frenchman Bruno Metsu was sacked following Qatar's exit at the quarter-final stage of premier Asian competition in Doha last month.
Rajevac had a successful international stint with Ghana, whom he led to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and to the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup.
Qatar Football Association president, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, has expressed his delight at his appointment.
"We wanted to have a good coach to replace (Bruno) Metsu and we know that (Milovan) Rajevac is a great coach," he said.
"He has previous experience of working in Qatar as his compatriot Bora Milutinovic's assistant at the Al Sadd Club (2004-05) and this should help him a lot."
The 57-year-old quit Ghana after the World Cup and joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli before moving to Qatar.
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