KIATISUK League Return SENAMUANG National Icon Leading Thailand Back to the Top ISSUE
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QUARTERLY THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION ISSUE 14 PLUS LAOS Expanded league structure boosting ambitious nation Suwon Samsung Bluewings Two-time Asian champions look to build on AFC Champions KIATISUK League return SENAMUANG National icon leading Thailand back to the top ISSUE 14April 2016 MOHANAD ABDULRAHEEM KYAH SIMON STEPHAN SCHROCK Forward leading from the front Australia striker netted four times International midfielder enjoying after Iraq advanced to the Olympic as the Matildas qualified for the life in the Philippines having made Games and AFC Asian Cup as well Olympic Games to continue her loan move to domestic champions as FIFA World Cup qualifiers impressive goal-scoring record Ceres La Salle from Germany QUARTERLY CONTENTS Issue No. 14 April-June 2016 Official quarterly publication of the Asian Football Confederation Published on behalf of the Asian Football Confederation by Lagardère Sports Asian Football Confederation AFC House, Jalan 1/155B, Bukit Jalil 5700 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: +603 8994 3388 Fax: +603 8994 2689 www.the-afc.com www.facebook.com/theafcdotcom 16 @theafcdotcom President & FIFA Vice President: Interview: Kiatisuk Senamuang Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa Vice Presidents: RENAISSANCE MAN Mr. Zhang Jilong Saoud A. Aziz M A Al Mohannadi Praful Patel Winston Lee Boon Aun 22 – MOHANAD ABDULRAHEEM 40 – IN FOCUS: LAOS Ali Kafashian Naeini Striker Mohanad Abdulraheem eyes Laos hope a breakthrough success further success having already netted in this year’s AFC Cup is the sign of things FIFA Executive Committee several crucial goals for Iraq ahead of his to come for the South East Asian nation. Members: 23rd birthday later this year. HE Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al Ahmad 46 – AHMED AL SARORI Al Sabah 24 – ABDULKAREEM HASSAN Yemen’s Ahmed Al Sarori scored a HRH Prince Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah Abdulkareem Hassan agonisingly fell short of spectacular goal at the AFC U23 Kohzo Tashima leading Qatar to the 2016 Olympic Games, Championship having already made but the Al Sadd defender is looking to the future. a name for himself at international level. AFC Executive Committee 50 – CLUB FOCUS: Members: 30 – SHOYA NAKAJIMA Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, AFC U23 Championship MVP Shoya Nakajima SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS Richard Lai, Moya Dodd, Mahfuza reflects on a change in fortunes over the last Two-time Asian champions Suwon Samsung Akhter Kiron, Susan Shalabi Molano, two years for the FC Tokyo midfielder. Bluewings are out to replicate the success Han Un-gyong, HE Mohamed Khalfan achieved when current coach Seo Jung-won MS Al Romaithi, Chung Mong-gyu, was playing for the K-League Classic side. Ahmed Eid S. Al Harbi, Mariano V. 36 – STEPHAN SCHROCK Araneta Jr., Mohamed Shaweed, International midfielder Stephan Schrock 56 – KYAH SIMON Sardor Rakhmatullaev, Hachem fulfilled his dream of playing in the Philippines Striker Kyah Simon led from the front as Sayed Ali Haidar, Viphet Sihachakr, HE after joining domestic champions Ceres Australia qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Zohra Mehri La Salle on loan at the start of the year. to further enhance her growing reputation. AFC General Secretary: Dato’ Windsor John Editor: Andrew Mullen Regular Sections Deputy Editor: Daniel Pordes 12 - In The News 68 AFC Women’s Olympic Football Designer: 62 - 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Tournament Rio 2016 David Chung Asian Cup Qualifiers 70 - AFC Champions League Photos: Lagardère Sports, Agence SHOT, 64 AFC U23 Championship 72 - AFC Cup Adnan Hajj Ali, Getty Images, Power Sport Images 66 AFC Futsal Championship 74 - Inside AFC Any views expressed in AFC Quarterly do not necessarily reflect those of the Asian Football 78 - Great Grounds of Asia Confederation. The reproduction of photos and articles – even partially – is prohibited unless permission has been sought from the editors and a reference is made to the source. AFC PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa AFC President Dear friends, Welcome to the latest edition of the AFC Quarterly – the second for what promises to be an exciting year for Asian football. We ushered in the New Year with a clear and ambitious vision for the future. Our aspiration is to be the world’s leading football Confederation, one that will see our beautiful game remain the number one sport in Asia as our players and teams dominate on the world stage. The global football landscape continues to transform significantly and with the new FIFA Reforms, our football family has formed a powerful consensus which will allow us to forge – with FIFA and the new FIFA President - a new, deeper governance framework. I am pleased to note that the AFC is playing a leading role in this shift, having already implemented several of the governance reform proposals approved by the FIFA Executive Committee. Together with our new Vision and Mission, we will strive to achieve greater professionalism and integrity for all our Member Associations. Developing world-class competitions is a critical aspect of the AFC’s. The coming months will build on this momentum as the AFC’s flagship competitions reach the decisive stages. Asia’s top clubs are challenging for supremacy in the group stages of the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup competitions. The exciting journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will undoubtedly produce more memorable moments as our teams reach the final stages of the qualifiers. Across the continent, we continue to witness the AFC competitions grow in stature. The AFC U23 Championship Qatar 2016 was a resounding success, with an almost threefold increase in the average attendance from the previous edition, and social media engagement exceeding all expectations. The AFC Futsal Championship Uzbekistan 2016 also saw two of our teams – Uzbekistan and Vietnam – qualify for their first-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup, joining champions Iran, third placed Thailand and Australia in Colombia later this year. I am also proud to note the remarkable accomplishment by Vietnam, who will be appearing in their first-ever FIFA final tournament. I would like to congratulate the teams in all our competitions, both men’s and women’s, for their fantastic progress. In every way, the performances of our teams and competitions exemplify our mission to create, inspire and engage with the world’s biggest football community and strengthen the foundations for all our Member Associations to provide them with a chance to succeed on the world stage. In a crucial period for football, we have emerged stronger as one united Asia with one common goal and I would like to thank all our Member Associations for their dedication and commitment to bring our aspirations – both for the new FIFA reforms and the AFC’s Vision and Mission – to life: One Asia, One Goal. Asia’s potential is undeniable, our growth has been rapid and our progress holds no boundaries. We must continue working together to seize our opportunities and establish the AFC as the world‘s leading Confederation. Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa AFC President NIKE.COM AFC QUARTERLY 5 Gallery Crowd Pleaser Brazilian striker Adriano scored nine goals in just three games against Thailand’s Buriram United, Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima and China’s Shandong Luneng as Korea Republic’s FC Seoul made a flying start to this year’s AFC Champions League campaign. AFC QUARTERLY 7 Gallery For The Cameras Having already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Japan produced a thrilling comeback to edge out Korea Republic 3-2 in the final of the AFC U23 Championship at the end of January in Qatar. AFC QUARTERLY 9 Gallery Champion Spirit Iran claimed an 11th AFC Futsal Championship in February after beating hosts Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final in Tashkent as Mohammad Nazemalsharie’s side completed a 100% tournament record to land their first continental title since 2010. AFC QUARTERLY 11 IN THE NEWS Japan, Korea Republic & Iraq Vision And Mission Strategy To Represent Asia In Rio Unveiled By AFC AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS JAPAN, RUNNERS-UP KOREA REPUBLIC AND THE AFC UNVEILED ITS NEW VISION AND MISSION STRATEGY IN JANUARY THIRD-PLACE FINISHERS IRAQ WILL REPRESENT ASIA AT THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES IN WITH A FOCUS ON SUCCESS OF TEAMS ON THE WORLD STAGE, BRAZIL FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF JANUARY’S TOURNAMENT IN QATAR. AS WELL AS FAN ENGAGEMENT. sia will be represented by congratulations to Japan for their win and of the tournament as Kunishige Kamamoto’s he AFC signalled its intent to continent. competitions, to produce commercially Japan, Korea Republic and their magnificent performances throughout seven goals, which included both against become the world’s leading The AFC also launched a new Vision attractive content for stakeholders and Iraq at the 2016 Olympic the tournament. Mexico, secured the historic medal and they football confederation with and Mission logo tagline – One Asia, One increase fan engagement, to implement Games men’s football “The Korea Republic team should also be have now qualified for the last six Olympic the unveiling of its new Vision Goal – signifying the core values of unity, good governance and professional tournament following the praised for their valiant efforts,” said AFC Games. and Mission on the sidelines professionalism and leadership. administrative standards, to ensure the completion of January’s AFC President Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Even before their bronze medal success of January’s AFC U23 In line with efforts to fully realise this utmost integrity at all levels and to leverage U23 Championship, which Khalifa. in London, which was secured having Championship in Doha. vision, the AFC has set out its mission, on football as a force for social good. also acted as the qualifiers “My congratulations go also to the ‘team lost 3-0 to Brazil in the semi-finals after The new vision will also see centered around seven key pillars: to provide The AFC Vision and Mission was first for Brazil later this year.