I first hit this region in 1987 as a callow, skinny youth off to Australia. At that time I envisaged 12 months away from home before returning to follow the Arsenal over land and sea, and Leicester, but that never happened did it?
I spent a week in Yogyakarta staying at a hotel by the main railway station.

I'm not going to start covering Chinese football but this story caught my eye. Given that they have four teams in the AFC Champions League, and given that two teams have ben caught cheating, should they continue to have four representatives at Asian football's showcase event?

Went to my first Futsal match last night between Cambodia and the Philippines. Now I freely admit I am not totally au fait with the Philippines. I've been there but not that often. I've met and worked with a few over the years. But I never knew they were so big and looked so...Iranian! I'll be posting some images later on Asian Football Pictures

Rafael Benítez saw his Inter team beat Seongnam 2-0 in Abu Dhabi

At least one team called Inter has made the final of the FIFA Club World Cup this year. European champions Internazionale FC did what their South American counterparts SC Internacional were unable to do and reach the showpiece game of the tournament which takes place on Sunday.

UEFA Champions League holders Internazionale FC of Milan are the new FIFA Club World Cup winners having defeated surprise package TP Mazembe of Africa by a 3-0 scoreline in Abu Dhabi this evening. Goals from Goran Pandev, Samuel Eto'o and late substitute Jonathan Biabiany sealed the deal for the Nerazzurri and gifted coach Rafael Benítez with his second trophy as coach of the Milanese giants having won the Italian Super Cup at the start of the season.

Malaysia have qualified for their first AFF Suzuki Cup final since 1996

Malaysia and Indonesia have qualified for the final of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, the tournament for south east Asian nations, after both teams overcame defending champions Vietnam and the Philippines in their respective semi-finals.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings Football Club is a Korean football team based in the Korean city of Suwon. Founded in December 1995, they have become one of Asian football's most famous clubs with a host of domestic and continental honours. Suwon were the 2008 K-League champions, having triumphed in the championship playoff final at the end of [.

Ever since Top Corner ended we have been denied the opportunity to watch South East Asian football on TV in the region.
I would like to have at least had the option to see the King's Cup. People in Singapore would perhaps like the option of seeing Ridhuan wowing the Arema fans and Thais perhaps would like to see how Suchao has been getting on.

It is a sad indictment of the Singapore mentality when only 2.809 fans can be bothered to see their local lads stand on the verge of Champions League football for the second successive season against the rising star of south east Asian football.
As football matches go this had everything.

I will steal Rob's admission on the weekend and simply vault it onto the continental scale: I know very little about Asian football. On the grandest of scales, I may even know nothing. Some teams, some of the better players, but more or less, nothing. But I have been enthralled by it for the last [.

I spent yesterday afternoon with Gombak United and their Aussie coach Darren Stewart for a training session at Jurong West Stadium.
Some images from the seesion can be found at Asian Football Pictures while a short clip is on Jakarta Casual TV.
Look out for interviews with Darren Stewart and Goran Subara over the next day or so.

Soraya Soemadiredja, writing not from Singapore, but Manila

A month before the World Cup, Africa and African footballing culture—at least, as dictated by FIFA—has taken over a little area of Southeast Asia in the FIFA Official Store. Not in Geneva, not in Johannesburg, but in Singapore.

The man who took the world by storm in telling the world he would score against all teams in the Group O'Death and staggered them twice with his brazen show of patriotism by blubbering during the national anthem has done what so many do this time every four years: parlayed the World Cup into a European contract.

Keisuke Honda celebrates his goal in Japan's 3-1 win over Denmark

Stoppage Time International Football Blog reviews the Asian nations' performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Japan and South Korea both qualified for the knock out stages of a World Cup for the first time outside of their own continent.

Keisuke Honda celebrates his goal in Japan's 3-1 win over Denmark

Stoppage Time International Football Blog reviews the Asian nations' performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Japan and South Korea both qualified for the knock out stages of a World Cup for the first time outside of their own continent.

(Picture above) My accreditation pass, press kit
Was at the Soccerex Asian Forum held at the Raffles City Convention Center.
It was networking gathering whosoever in the beautiful game graced by the presence of AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Beside a section of the venue catered for the exhibitors in the football industry, there were also number of workshops and seminars for keen participants to mingle and socialized around.

According to Malaysia's Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek it might come true. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have suggested the formation of a possible trans-national football league in southeast Asia to help encourage the club game in each respective country.

Nationally, each ASEAN country has participated in competitions with the AFC as well as the Southeast Asian Games.

With one foreign slot to be filled PSM have targeted Australian defensive midfielder/central defender Goran Subaru, possibly in their game against SAFFC on 5th September.
Goran is in his second season with Gombak United and has been featured prominently on this site with an interview on Jakarta Casual TV and Asian Football Pictures.

Asian football history will be made this Wednesday with South Korea at the heart of it all. The Land of the Morning Calm is supplying 50% of the eight teams still involved in the Asian Champions League as the continental competition resumes at the quarterfinal stage after a break of four months.
Much has happened since the second round came to a close in May, not least the 2010 World Cup.

Former J-League champions Tokyo Verdy have signed a five-year sponsorship deal with sports retail store and apparel company Xebio.

Without leading scorer Frederic Mendy SLeague champions Etoile still had enough in their locker to defeat a Young Lions side at Jalan Besar to secure 3rd place in the 2010 Singapore Cup.
A better game than I expected to be fair, Young Lions proved tough opponents and although there was never any danger they would win they didn't roll over and die and it wasn't till the last minute that a 3rd goal gave some respectability.

A decade into the Asian century, Australia's northern most state capital is ready to be set alight by Asian football. And fingers crossed, this time next year we could be in the middle of it...

Come out come out wherever you are.
1. Australia, FFA or Government has given $5 million to the AFC, no problems from me, but it hasn't been trumpeted loud and proud by anyone from either group. Weird?
And the Aussie media, the football media, are so limited in their analysis of the game and the issues surrounding it that they haven't even asked a question.

Soraya Soemadiredja, Manila.

South-East Asia is football mad, and collectively one of the largest consumers of European football* in the world. This December, it's all about Asia though, and we'll see all the big names in their region performing for their countries.

Nguyen Vu Phong was on target for Vietnam in their 1-0 win over Singapore

The semi-final line-up is now complete following the conclusion of Group B in the AFF Suzuki Cup, the tournament for south east Asian nations, today. Defending champions Vietnam squeezed into first place following a narrow win over Singapore.

Make no mistake this was a superb performance by Malaysia. But it also highlighted Viet Nam's frailities in front of goal as they huffed and puffed then gave the ball comfortably to Malaysian keeper Khairul Famri.

Beating Myanmar 7-1 is one thing but Viet Nam, highly fancied by many, have since struggled against the Philippines, lost 2-0, Singapore, won 1-0, and these two semi finals against Malaysia.

By Czeska Dumali, writing from Ottawa

In a story that was first announced by Arsenal blog Young Guns in August, Arsenal have finally confirmed the signing of Japanese forward Ryo Miyaichi. It was a great birthday present for the young player as he signed his contract with the Gunners on his 18th birthday.

The 2010 J-League champions Nagoya Grampus Eight are out of this year's Emperor's Cup. The main knockout tournament in Japanese football plays its final three rounds this week and Stoppage Time International Football Blog reviews the quarter-finals which were played today.

The Emperor's Cup grants a berth to the 2011 AFC Champions League for the winner so there was a lot at stake in each of today's last eight showdowns.

The AFF Suzuki Cup final, second leg, was held in Indonesia's capital of Djakarta today and for the hosts it proved to be too much of a difficult task to come back from the three goal deficit they had suffered in the first leg against Malaysia three days ago.

After a goalless first half there wasn't much hope left among the home fans of a fightback and the fears were confirmed just nine minutes into the second half when the tournament's top scorer, Mohd Safee Sali, opened the scoring getting his fifth goal of the competition and gave Malaysia a 4-0 aggregate lead.

Brisbane Roar are top of the Hyundai A-League at the moment

Australia's Hyundai A-League has been unusually competitive this season, mainly due to the ineptitude of the reigning champions coupled with the inconsistency of the A-League's most successful team since records began. Brisbane Roar, rather than Sydney FC or Melbourne Victory, are in pole position after the Christmas schedule and with the Play-Offs soon to come Stoppage Time International Football Blog reviews the situation with just weeks of the regular season remaining.

Cometh the hour, cometh Yasuhito Endo as one of Asian football's genuine stars took control of the 89th Emperor's Cup final at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The recently crowned Asian footballer of the year scored twice and laid on another as Gamba Osaka overpowered Nagoya Grampus 4-1 in front of 42,140 fans, who turned out in bright sunshine in the Japanese capital.

On the eve of the crucial Asian Cup Qualifier tie against one of Asian football powerhouses - Iran, national midfielder Hariss Harun shares his thoughts on tomorrow's game.
Hariss is an ambassador for the Nike RED campaign
Hi Hariss, thanks for taking the time out of your busy training schedule to speak to us.

North Korea sensationally overcame the traditional Asian superpowers of Iran and Saudi Arabia to qualify along with neighbours South Korea as well as Japan and Australia from the Asian qualifying rounds. Even within Asian football, the North Koreans have a reputation, a reputation that was cemented when they stunned the .

As Andy Gray would say, what a game.
I don't really do match reports, even more so for this game as I was pitch side what a great advertisment it was for south east Asian football.
Muang Thong United played very well. In goal Kawin Thamsatchanan showed again what a tremendous keeper he is with a quality, confident performance.

Jakarta Casual TV
Asian Football Pictures
More stuff from my trip to Singapore to see SAFFC play Muang Thong United in the ACL qualifier. On Jakarta Casual TV there is a selection of pictures from the final penalty...AFC regulations forbidded me from using the camera, while Asian Football Pictures has a close up look at the pain and glory on and off the field.

Pat is as mad as a hatter. He's a Belgian groundhopper, a person who gets his jollies from travelling round Europe taking in games at different stadiums.
He was recently in Thailand and took in a couple of games there. First up he went to see Pattaya United against BEC Tero then followed that up with Navy Rayong v Pattaya United.

Some pictures I took at the Cambodia v Philippines game were used by the Phnom Penh Post. Find more at Asian Football Pictures.

I've always maintained there is more to football than 22 guys kicking a ball around. Perhaps it's one reason why I started this here blog. To try and encompass the whole football experience. What boots Ronaldo wears or who do Real Madrid wanna sign just dumbs the game down even more. Maybe it's what people want but that's another story.

On my sister site Asian Football Pictures a couple of new posts from my Malang trip. First is a look at the forgotten team in the city, Persema. There was also a warung near my hotel called the Persema which suggests they do have a small, hardcore support.
And then some action shots from Arema v Pelita Jaya including Noh Alam Shah scoring the first of his three.

A sampling from 101gg's Goals of the Week. Asian football's success with the "3+1″ rule. (Inside Futbol) Wayne Rooney pinching booze like a teenager. (ManU Offside) Quite simply, the worst teams in Europe. (The Best Eleven) The sponsorship issues creeping up at WC2010. (When Saturday Comes) Adriano is marrying his captive.