Bryan Robson's first taste of Asian football came last Saturday when Thailand traveled to
Singapore. He came through that test with flying colours as the Thais comprehensively beat the
Kallang Roar-deficient Singapore 3-1. That win boosted his credentials as a legitimate national
team coach. What was even better that Saturday was that Noh Alam Shah, Singapore's best player
would be suspended on Wednesday (today) when Thailand hosts Singapore at the Rajamangala Stadium.
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Thai fans on Asian Football Pictures
*** COMING SOON ***Peter Lang interview on Jakarta Casual TV
Bryan Robson post match press conference on Jakarta Casual TV
Raddy Avramovic post match press conference on Jakarta Casual TV
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Over on Asian Football Pictures there are some pictures of Persebaya's 'infamous' bonek as well as
snapshots of some of their new imports
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Situado en la capital de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Abu Dhabi, el Zayed Stadium es el estadio
más grande del país, con un aforo de más de 50.000 espectadores.
Fue creado por el difunto presidente de los EAU, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a fin de
proporcionar un complejo deportivo dedicado que pudiera ser anfitrión de importantes eventos
deportivos árabes e internacionales.
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A couple of weeks back when I was last in Singapore I interviewed Dez Corkhill for Jakarta Casual
TV. Dez has long done his best to promote South East Asian football and now commentates on SLeague
games for some local channels.
Since then the interview has gone on to be the most viewed piece on Jakarta Casual TV, nothing
spectacular we're just talking hundreds, as well as being discussed in circles high and low.
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" I once described Mani to a Lebanese newspaper as a virus! Once he got hold of you he was
impossible to shake off. I dont know if they understood but the opposition players soon did.
We then progresed through to the AFC cup semi final, an incredible acheivment for such a small club
captained by Mani.
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Last weekend the story in south east Asian football was the Muang Thong United v Chonburi game no
question about it and I was lucky enough to get to cover it.
This weekend the story is Arema v Persija with the four Singaporeans on show. So what the bloody
hell am I doing in Singapore, taking in a meaningless Malaysia Cup tie?
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Check out the following on Jakarta Casual TV
Fans from Muang Thong United and Chonburi in celebratory mood
Exclusive chat with Chonburi keeper Kosin
And on Asian Football Pictures more colour from Sunday's big game
We ain't done yet with an exclusive interview with the Chairman of the TPL Khun Vichit Yamboonruang
to be serialised over the next few days!
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With Peter Reid taking up the assistant manager position at Stoke City, Thailand FA set out in
search of the best candidate to replace him. That search ended with the hire of Bryan Robson, the
current global ambassador for Manchester United.
While Robbo has been the most outstanding player of his generation, he has yet to prove himself to
be a top class manager.
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While Robson's management skills may be questionable, he is famous as a former England and
Manchester United skipper.
This could help promote the Thai Premier League and ignite passion for the national team.
Because of Robson, more people around the world know something about the Thai national side.
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I gotta say the English are a funny bunch. When they're not getting shitfaced and vomitting in
people's front gardens they have a wierd and wonderful collection of interests. They travel miles
round the country to stand on wet and windy railway platforms to make note of railway engine
numbers. They dress up in period costumes and re enact historic battles.
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Peter Reid relished the rough and tumble of a Merseyside derby.
And the pugnacious midfield soldier loved nothing better than rubbing Liverpool's noses in it
Now boss of the Thai national side, the Everton legend is hoping to get one over on the old enemy
once again.
And after squaring up to the Reds at Goodison, Anfield and even Wembley – this time he's hoping
to triumph in unfamiliar territory.
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Back in 2006, I interviewed Steve Tew at the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. At the time, he
was the second most important person in All Blacks rugby. Now he's the first. We were talking about
the impact the Pacific Islands have on New Zealand rugby, and he made a pretty convincing case for
players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga looking to come and play for the All Blacks as a way of
improving their lifestyles while giving something back to their adopted homes.
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And now for something completely different.
I've been writing about South East Asian football for 3 and a half years now. Since then I've
added Asian Football Pictures to try and capture the passion and colour of the game in this part of
the world.
It has always been my intention to add new ways of covering the game in this region.
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Soccerly 04 June @ 07:37 PM EST
Asian football players are far and between in the world class elite. The Japanese Naoki
Yamada has the potential to belong to one of the few big names in football.
He currently plays for Urawa Red Diamonds, he started in the first team in 2008. He also made
his debut for Japanese national team on May 27, 2009 in a friendly match against Chile, which the
Japs convincingly won 4-0.
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After the dowdy draw againt China on Friday, Germany defeated the UAE 7-2 in Dubai on their
second and last stop of the Asia trip on Tuesday. As suspected, it was a better training game, the
only notable aspects were Schalke's Manuel Neuer who debuted in the German goal and showed a strong
and solid effort.
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After the dowdy draw againt China on Friday, Germany defeated the UAE 7-2 in Dubai on their
second and last stop of the Asia trip on Tuesday. As suspected, it was a better training game, the
only notable aspects were Schalke's Manuel Neuer who debuted in the German goal and showed a strong
and solid effort.
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After the dowdy draw againt China on Friday, Germany defeated the UAE 7-2 in Dubai on their
second and last stop of the Asia trip on Tuesday. As suspected, it was a better training game, the
only notable aspects were Schalke's Manuel Neuer who debuted in the German goal and showed a strong
and solid effort.
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Appeared on a business forum today apparently. Seems like they are really on track..and gotta love
the bit about getting the GBP 2-5 million pounds quick. (ahem hurry up lads the your meetings
tomorrow.)
If this was from Nigeria you'd spam it wouldn't you.
Guess a load of guys are out there handing over their GBP 2 million pounds as I type.
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Two wins in their last six for DPMM, just one away win all season, it looks like the DPMM bubble
has burst but it was fun while it lasted.
Talking Singapore I'm off there tomorrow for a couple of days medical stuff. I won't be taking the
lap top but hopefully will get to a game or two so check out Asian Football Pictures for updates.
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Asian Champions LeagueSriwijaya v Shandong 4-2 (
It looked like a case of same old, same old, as Shandong carved Sriwijaya apart with ease in the
first half and the only surprise was that the goals took a long time coming. But come they did both
in the final minutes before half time.
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Right, what's occuring in the whacky world of South East Asian football this weekend? Actually the
action has already begun with Albirex Niigata beating Geylang United in the SLeague with goals from
Taisuke Akiyoshi and Kenji Adachihara.
Tomorrow night the action switches to Brunei when local heroes DPMM try to bolster their goal
difference when they take on Young Lions, thumped 5-0 last time by Super Reds.
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Soccerblog 08 May @ 08:40 AM EST
Sepp Blatter sent his legal team to ensure that the elections to the FIFA executive committee
went off smoothly in one of the most bitter and acrimonious campaigns that pitted incumbent
Mohammed Bin Hammam, AFC president from Qatar against Bahrain's challenger Sheikh Salman bin
Ebrahim Al-Khalifa.
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Soccerblog 08 May @ 01:05 AM EST
An Arabic metaphor is misunderstood by South Korean football officials and sets the tone for the
poisonous state of affairs that Asian football finds itself in.
The AFC is becoming increasingly fractious under the weight of its 46 constituent, the largest
regional group with a varied cultural, economic, and political background adding to the
complexity.
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Stuff to read while you hose down the pitch..... Finding a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at OT.
(EPL Offside) Realizing there's no defending Joey Barton anymore. (SoccerLens) A look at the state
of the Italian fan. (Football Italiano) Malawi football continues to hit the mainstream. This time:
porn.
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Soccerblog 01 May @ 01:36 AM EST
Mohammed Bin Hammam, AFC president is thumbing his nose at FIFA directives that reinstate the
voting rights of five countries in the AFC.
He had stripped these countries of their privileges at the behest of the ad-hoc legal
committee's recommendations. As per the committee four countries did not deserve representation
because their participation in tournaments do not meet AFC standards.
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The Final Score
TWITTER UPDATE
The "Twitter" box had been removed from this blog entry and you can trace whatever I "tweeted" on
the right of the page (under the "BoLASEPaKO" on twitter menu).
PICTURES OF THE DAY & THE SHORT TAKE of THE GAME
Banner boys getting ready
It was indeed a tame affair as compared to ACL, as the crowds were much lesser than expected.
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Kickster 11 November @ 11:05 AM EST
Over the next several days, I'll be doing a brief profile of each of the teams participating in
Beijing 2008. First up, the host nation: Historically, the Steel Roses have been the undisputed
leader on the Asian football scene, but they've endured some disappointing results recently - most
notably a 3-0 loss to Japan in February's East Asian Federation championship.
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The Malaysian FA gets a torrid time around the region. Last season they stubbornly insisted
Manchester United play a friendly game in KL despite the fact they were hosting the Asian Cup,
Asia's Euro Championships, at the time.
More recently they dusted off the bunting to welcome Chelsea and the chance for officials to beam
on the front pages.
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Australia and Asian Football. Since our acceptance as a Member of the Asian Football Conference and
of course our successful sojourn to Germany in 2006, Australian Football both Internationally and
Nationally has grown. We now find ourselves in the 4th and final round of qualifying for the 2010
World Cup in South Africa.
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16 September
Perak v SAFA (Lebanon)
SAF v Al Nadha (Oman)
Dempo (India) v Home United
Muharraq (Bahrain) v Kedah
Kedah and Perak go into these crucial games with severe handicaps. Perak's financial woes have been
well publicised while both teams will be without their foreign players who can no longer play in
Malaysia.
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The new Thai coach Peter Reid started his new job yesterday and what happened? The Thai Prime
Minister only goes and declares a state of emergency after disturbances between pro and anti
government protesters left one person dead.
Reid, who admits to never having seen Thailand play and knowing little about Asian football, will
have just a few weeks to run his eye over national players before the Thai Premier League finishes
next month.
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Lee Young-pyo is one of football's true gentlemen. The versatile defender is leaving Tottenham
Hotspur for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund after three good years at White Hart Lane and all
who knew him, as well as those who benefitted from some of his unreported good deeds he did off the
pitch in London, will wish him well at the former European champions.
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South East Asia's only show that covers South East Asian football is back on Star Sports at 6pm
Indonesian/Thai time every Tuesday.
As ever they will show highlights of games from the region.
This time round they also want to feature photographs people have taken at games. I know that many
fans, especially here in Indonesia, don't have any cable TV but if you have some pictures of your
Supporters' Club or your team in action then contact me and I will tell you what to do next.
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