QUARTERLY THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION ISSUE 3 JAVAD Shaikh Salman New AFC President NEKOUNAM tells of his plans to Iran’s captain bring unity to Asia fantastic steers Team Melli to Brazil 2014 Quarter-finals ISSUE Preview PLUS OMAN The Sultanate striving for greater July3 2013 professionalism ALI AL HABSI BURIRAM UNITED WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP Middle East’s goalkeeping Thai FA Cup winners set their Jordan advance to first finals icon on Wigan Athletic’s sights on making their alongside Vietnam, Thailand and FA Cup triumph and inspiring mark at the highest level Myanmar to join Australia, Japan, the next generation of Asian club football China and Korea Republic hypervenom 2 july neymar.pdf 1 2/7/13 4:46 PM CONTENTS QUARTERLY Issue No. 3 July-September 2013 Official quarterly publication of the Asian Football Confederation Published on behalf of the Asian Football Confederation by Asian Sports Media in conjunction with World Sport Group Asian Football Confederation AFC House, Jalan 1/155B, Bukit Jalil 5700 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Tel: +603 8994 3388 18 Fax: + 603 8994 2689 Interview: Shaikh Salman www.the-afc.com Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa President: Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa MEET THE NEW BOSS Vice Presidents: Zhang Jilong C HRH Prince Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah M Yousuf Yaqoob Yousuf Al Serkal Moya Dodd Y Ganesh Thapa 24 – JAVAD NEKOUNAM 42 – AFC CHAMPIONS CM With qualification for the FIFA World Cup LEAGUE PREVIEW FIFA Vice President: finals sealed, Javad Nekounam is setting HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein MY The field contesting the continent’s his sights on even more success leading club competition is down to FIFA Executive Committee CY just eight. Who will crown themselves Members: Asia’s number one for 2013? CMY 30 – IN FOCUS: OMAN Dato’ Worawi Makudi An impressive performance in qualifying Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim K for the FIFA World Cup and the creation of 48 – AFC CUP PREVIEW AFC Executive Committee a new professional league prove football in The AFC Cup reaches the quarter-final Members: Oman is on an upward curve stages, with all to play for amongst the Dr Hafez Al Medlej, Richard Lai, Zaw eight teams from across the continent Zaw, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, Praful 36 – ALI AL HABSI Patel, Kohzo Tashima, Ganbold FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Ali Al 52 – CLUB FOCUS: Buyannemekh, Ali Azim, Sayyid Habsi continues to be an inspiration for BURIRAM UNITED Khalid Hamed Al Busaidi, Makhdoom footballers across the continent Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Winston Buriram United targetted a place Lee, Dr Tran Quoc Tuan, Susan within the continent’s club elite - their Shalabi Molano, Han Un-gyong run to the latter stages of the 2013 AFC Champions League sees General Secretary: that ambition fulfilled Dato’ Alex Soosay Managing Editor: Michael Church Regular Sections Editor: Andrew Mullen 14 – In the News 69 – AFC President’s Cup Designer: David Chung 58 – AFC Asian Cup Update 71 – AFC Women’s Asian Cup Photos: World Sport Group, Agence SHOT, 62 – FIFA World Cup 73 – AFC U-14 Championship Adnan Hajj Ali, Thananuwat Srirasant 64 – AFC Champions League 74 – Inside AFC Any views expressed in AFC Quarterly do not necessarily 66 – AFC Cup 78 – Great Grounds of Asia reflect those of the Asian Football 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/GENERAL SECRETARY’S MESSAGE Shaikh Salman bin Dato’ Alex Soosay Ebrahim Al Khalifa AFC President AFC General Secretary Dear friends, It has been a busy time for Asian football on and off the field. The AFC Congress once again proved the confederation’s democratic traditions with an overwhelming participation of the Member Associations. The Congress also made it clear to the whole world that Asian football is keen to move forward towards a new era of transparency, integrity and holistic development. On the field, Asian fans saw the completion of the qualifying competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After a thrilling set of final round matches, Japan, Iran, Korea Republic and Australia have booked their spots in next year’s festival of football and we would like to congratulate them while hoping that either Uzbekistan or Jordan will earn one more berth for Asia after the intercontinental play-offs. The focus now shifts to getting all the stakeholders together and working ceaselessly to improve Asian football. Our Member Associations have actively embraced the AFC Grassroots Year 2013 and as we continue to organise and support educational courses, the qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 and the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup beckon us. We would like wish all the teams the very best for the upcoming matches and hope that the AFC Champions League will once again provide the much-needed impetus to our club competitions. Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa Dato’ Alex Soosay AFC President AFC General Secretary AFC QUARTERLY 5 Gallery Samurai Success Keisuke Honda celebrates after netting a stoppage-time penalty to secure Japan automatic qualification for 2014 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic 1-1 draw with Australia at Saitama Stadium. AFC QUARTERLY 7 Gallery Next Stop Brazil For Socceroos Australia qualified for a third straight FIFA World Cup after Nagoya Grampus striker Josh Kennedy came off the bench to score the only goal to earn the Socceroos a 1-0 win over Iraq at Stadium Australia. AFC QUARTERLY 9 Gallery Iran Seal Return To World Cup Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz celebrates following Iran’s qualification for a fourth FIFA World Cup after Reza Ghoochannejhad’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over Korea Republic at Ulsan Munsu Stadium. AFC QUARTERLY 11 Gallery Qualification Relief Korea Republic celebrate after taking the lead against Uzbekistan during the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The 1-0 win eventually proved decisive as Korea edged out the Central Asians on goal difference to qualify automatically for Brazil. AFC QUARTERLY 13 IN THE NEWS Shaikh Salman Quartet Secure Wins Presidential Vote Ticket to Brazil SHAIKH SALMAN BIN EBRAHIM AL KHALIFA ELECTED 10TH JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, IRAN AND KOREA REPUBLIC SECURED AUTOMATIC FULL-TIME PRESIDENT OF THE ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION AT QUALIFICATION FOR NEXT YEAR’S FIFA WORLD CUP, WITH JORDAN AND MAY’S EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS IN KUALA LUMPUR. UZBEKISTAN SET TO FACE OFF IN THE PLAY-OFFS FOR BRAZIL 2014. ahrain Football Association in one path, to look ahead to our goals, to Australia’s Moya Dodd, meanwhile, President Shaikh Salman achieve our targets, to get as many things was elected unopposed to the position of ontinental champions Australia, though, soon followed suit as from Korea defender Kim Young-gwon on Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was done as possible especially by the year AFC Female Vice President at the AFC Japan, Australia, Iran Holger Osieck’s side went onto beat Jordan the hour mark at Munsu Stadium to find the elected the Asian Football 2015. Congress and was also co-opted onto the and Korea Republic will 4-0 before Josh Kennedy came off the bench net for a third consecutive game as Iran Confederation’s new “There are many great things that can FIFA Executive Committee during the FIFA represent Asia at the 2014 to score the only goal with seven minutes advanced to the FIFA World Cup for a fourth President after receiving be done in two years’ time. We should Congress in Mauritius at the end of May. FIFA World Cup after remaining as the Socceroos edged out Iraq time as Group A winners. 33 out of 46 votes during expect some changes and we’d like to “I am delighted to be re-elected as AFC securing qualification for 1-0 at Stadium Australia. Korea were forced to endure a nervous the AFC Extraordinary see a smooth transition to our goals Vice President and very grateful to our next year’s finals in Brazil Failure to win on the final Matchday could few minutes with their defeat opening the BCongress in Kuala Lumpur on May 2. and understanding between all Member Member Associations for their confidence following a thrilling climax have opened the door for either Oman or door for Uzbekistan before their automatic Shaikh Salman becomes the AFC’s 10th Associations.” in me,” said Dodd during the AFC Cto the final round of qualifiers in June. Jordan, but Kennedy’s header secured qualification for an eighth consecutive FIFA full-time president and takes over from Shaikh Salman was also elected to the Congress. Japan became the first side to qualify for Australia a third straight FIFA World Cup World Cup was confirmed on goal difference Zhang Jilong, who has held the post on FIFA Executive Committee, claiming 28 DPR Korea’s Han Un-gyong and Susan the 2014 finals after hosts Brazil as Keisuke appearance. as the Central Asians could only manage a an Acting basis since mid-2011. Shaikh votes from 46 to claim the position. Shalabi Molani from Palestine also joined Honda’s stoppage-time penalty secured Alberto And despite a 1-0 win over Oman, Jordan 5-1 comeback win over Qatar. Salman’s term as president will run until “I’m really humbled by the votes and the AFC Executive Committee as Female Zaccheroni’s side a dramatic last-gasp 1-1 were forced to settle for third place and a Despite the eye-catching win in Tashkent, 2015. confidence shown in me and I would like to Members for the East and West Zones draw with Australia at Saitama Stadium at the place in the play-offs.