2012 AFC Challenge Cup

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Not the most exciting tournament Asia hosts but still one that is important for football development.

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers commence next week with the clash of the Titans, Cambodia v Macau.

The minnows of the minnows have a two legged play-off to enter the qualification stage, they are:

Playoff 1: Bhutan vs Afghanistan
Playoff 2: Philippines vs Mongolia
Playoff 3: Chinese Taipei vs Laos
Playoff 4: Cambodia vs Macau

After that the qualification round commences in March.

Group A: Myanmar, Palestine, Bangladesh, winner of playoff 2
Group B: Turkmenistan, India, winner of playoff 3, Pakistan
Group C: Tajikistan, Maldives, winner of playoff 4, Kyrgyzstan
Group D: DPR Korea, winner of playoff 1, Nepal, Sri Lanka

The top two from each group go through to the 2012 final, the host of which is determined after the qualification round.

In all I'm not really sure what North Korea is doing there, it truly is farcical. Regardless I expect good things from the Philippines who improved beyond recognition at the AFF Suzuki Cup.

[Steelinho]

I have to hope Maldives qualify, for the sake of the local kids retaining interest in the sport when I head there in May to do some coaching camps. So, for that reason...


Go Maldives, etc!



Kind of expecting DPRK and Nepal to ease through Group D, though.

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I have to hope Maldives qualify, for the sake of the local kids retaining interest in the sport when I head there in May to do some coaching camps.

Great news! Male is one crowded island however the outer islands are a bit easier.

I've watched Nepal live before (they played Cambodia)and given the Maldive's results in the SAFF Cup over the last few years (they won the whole thing in '08) I expect them to roll the boys from Kathmandu should they meet. It's strange actually as to why they play so well, in some ways they remind me of Solomon Islands.

I don't know much about the team but for one player called Ali Ashfaq who has real class and should be playing out of the Maldives.

EDIT: That said I think they have the most even group

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actually if I was to have a mad punt (and it is a mad punt as I have little idea of the recent performances of some of the Central Asian sides) on who will make the finals I'd say:

Group A: Myanmar & Philippines
Group B: Turkmenistan & India
Group C: Maldives & Kyrgyzstan
Group D: North Korea & Nepal

Given that the hosts need to be selected from these countries I'd imagine the rights would go to India though if it is in Myanmar I may wander across (or be already based there for work - you never know your luck)

[Steelinho]

The most I've seen of anything Maldives is a few highlights from the Dhivehi League. Apart from Ibrahim Fazeel and Ali Ashfaq, I know nothing about the NT. Hopefully I get a chancec to learn more while I'm there. (Not sure where I'll be located, though. Might not be Male.)


I'm thinking the same for qualifiers, with exception to...

Group B: India + Chinese Taipei (I don't even know why)

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There is a chance that they may not get past Laos. Laos pulled a surprise result against Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup though I suspect may be in for a pummelling in Taipei.

I expect to be in Yangon for work in March so may time it to coincide with the qualifiers. I'd love to see the Philippines - Myanmar game. I've found the resurgance (or just surgance, I'm not sure there was ever an occasion in the past that would justify a "re") of Philippines football fascinating. They have really tapped into the diaspora and now have some quasi decent footballers in their side. In the AFF Suzuki Cup these teams played to a draw (but three days earlier Philippines defeated Vietnam 2-0, possibly their greatest ever victory)

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True giants of Asian football clashed yesterday in resounding conflict that shook the very foundations of the continent.

Cambodia managed a 3-1 win over Macau but should have won by far more. Macau were playing with 3 at the back and a sweeper which was a bizarre indeed. Some poor finishing from Cambodia stopped this from being a blow-out. In all a good afternoon at the Olympic Stadium with the ban on cans meaning we poured our half time beers into plastic bags used for selling take-away sugarcane juice and drank with straws. You've got to love Cambodia.

Philippines played Mongolia and managed a regulation 2-0 win which, all said and done, is a pretty good result for Mongolia.

Today Taiwan take on Laos and Bhutan host Afghanistan.

Return legs for all games are next week.

[RedsFan31]

India vs Pakistan will be some sort of derby!

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India vs Pakistan will be some sort of derby!

Not a lot of love lost there! I expect India to thump Pakistan though.

Taiwan took Laos to the cleaners with a 5-2 win. It's a bit disappointing for Laos who showed some pluck drawing with Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup and even though they have the return leg I fear 3 goals may prove too much.

Oddly, or perhaps not so, the Bhutan-Afghanistan match never occured. I have no idea as to why however since Bhutan was hosting I'd assume the problem was getting the Afghan team out of Kabul.

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and Cambodia are through by the skin of their teeth. They were up 0:1 at half time giving them a 4:1 net lead. Being Cambodia they then relaxed and next thing you know it was a net 4:4 position. Luckily someone scored in the 17th minute of extra time. Bloody hell they make it hard for themselves.

Taiwan drew with Laos and are through. Philippines play Mongolia in March and the Afghanistan-Bhutan games will be played then as well (for what reason I know not).

[Steelinho]

I'm just glad that my tip of Chinese Taipei is still valid.

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I'm just glad that my tip of Chinese Taipei is still valid.

My Laos tip ended up pretty wide of the mark

[Steelinho]

Well, there was certainly a pummelling of some sort, just that the 5-2 went the other way.

Interesting that the second leg was 1-1. Wouldn't mind seeing the differences between the two games.

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Well, there was certainly a pummelling of some sort, just that the 5-2 went the other way.

Interesting that the second leg was 1-1. Wouldn't mind seeing the differences between the two games.

With many of the minnows the main problem is the lack of fitness. Many of the games end up with blowouts towards the end as one side or the other runs out of legs.

The other problem is the grounds being more often than not rough as guts which makes it difficult for more technically proficient players to dominate.

You see it in the league here where the African imports often dominate games through strength and fitness, whilst technically they are, more often than not, worse than their Cambodian counterparts. As the league is improving (from an admittedly exceptionally low base) this gap is shrinking.

I'm still on track to see Myanmar v Philippines in Yangon

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The hosts for the group stages have been announced (about 5 weeks before the game - nice forward planning there )

They are:
Maldives
Myanmar
Nepal
Malaysia

All, except for the Nepal games, are 21st - 23rd March. Nepal being in early April.

How does that fit with the Maldives trip, Steelinho? I'm fairly sure I can work my Myanmar work around those dates.