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Post by turnmyswagon10 on Nov 14, 2012 13:30:56 GMT 8
^Good news indeed!
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Post by xyz1000 on Nov 16, 2012 22:16:51 GMT 8
While I'm surprised at this decision, I'm glad that the RP is still on the list, one of only two contenders. On revenue generation I suspect India would win overwhelmingly, so maybe that's not a big consideration in picking the host. Still, I like our chances on hosting vs. Maldives.
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Post by stellarboy on Nov 16, 2012 23:15:40 GMT 8
The guys at bigsoccer have been talking about the non-inclusion of India and Tajikistan in the final shortlist for the AFC Challenge Cup host in 2014. They see it as "plain old AFC politics" as I have also observed that the confed is not really transparent with their policies compared to UEFA or CONCACAF. There are a lot of committee members in the AFC representing the sub-confeds that can push for a nation that can properly host such low-tier competitions like this, but I don't think the AFC is listening to their demands.
I think India is now more pressured to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup after their loss to our NT during the 2012 edition. A lot of money is being invested in their football there and I suspect they are doing all they can to push through hosting the competition to avoid the tough competition in the qualifiers next year.
Tajikistan, on the other hand, was doing great in hosting this year's AFC President's Cup, but one bigsoccer member shared this incident that happened in their local league this year, just mere weeks before the actual tournament:
This violent encounter alerted the AFC and I think this prompted them not to include the Central Asian nation in the shortlist.
Choosing between our country and Maldives, bias aside, I will still pick the Philippines in hosting the Challenge Cup, in order to reinforce the popularity of football in the country, which is gaining ground each and every day in the past two years. As a football nation on the rise, I believe hosting this competition will gain momentum not only for the sport, but also those who follow it here and in neighboring nations in South East Asia. Having a large emigre population in the US and in Europe will mean a wider coverage of the tournament through our local media outfits (the TFC for instance). And given the Maldives is already hailed an international tourist haven, I doubt they would be able to handle visiting fans given their less than reasonable accommodations and doubts over how accessible their stadia are. Our country has the benefit of having accommodations of reasonable price and accessible venues such as Rizal Memorial and Panaad, plus great tourist spots the visiting fans can look upon; good chance for marketing opportunities.
Plus, the fact that our fans are very accommodating and respectful towards opposition, which is a effect that this nation is still a budding nation in the sport and has a chance to mature in a good way.
Let's hope though for a favorable choice the AFC will make this November 28th.
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Post by b3lowzro on Nov 17, 2012 1:02:13 GMT 8
well the local fans here are not that wild compared to their counter parts abroad, looking at ginebra games or even DLSU-ADMU games mostly you would hear jeers for opposing crowds. No more like the 80's were everthing is personal to the crowds.
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 28, 2012 13:02:27 GMT 8
Unless they postponed again, I believe the AFC are suppose to decide the host today, Nov. 28 after which the draw for the qualifiers will be held in Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully we win the bid to host the event as it would be a big advantage in our quest to make the Asian Cup.
Stay tuned.
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Post by opn on Nov 28, 2012 15:58:21 GMT 8
We didn't get it. Cedelf Tupas @cedelfpt
Maldives has been awarded the hosting rights to the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. Philippines need to go through qualifying stage ETA: Maldives to host 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Print E-mail Wednesday, 28 November 2012 15:37
nov2012 comps 3x2Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Competitions Committee on Wednesday decided to give the hosting rights of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup to Maldives.
The committee, under the chairmanship of AFC Vice-President the UAE’s Yousuf Al Serkal, ratified the decision of the Organising Committee for AFC President’s Cup & AFC Challenge Cup to appoint Maldives as a host of the next edition of this eight-team Finals.
At the outset, AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong complimented the committee members for the growing stature of AFC competitions.
“All our competitions are growing in popularity and level of standard has also increased many folds. I would like to thank you for your contribution in this committee,” he said.
“I would like to urge you to share your knowledge and experience which will help the AFC competitions in a big way.”
Al Serkal said it was a wonderful year for AFC and its competitions as the Asian youngsters showcased their skills at the AFC U-16 and U-19 Championships.
“The future stars of Asia descended in Iran and the UAE during these two youth championships and I am sure many of the players will find places in their respective teams,” he said.
“The technical level of teams was excellent during these tournaments and I would like to congratulate the Member Associations who participated in these tournaments for their hard work.”
The committee also proposed the 2013 AFC Champions League slots to the AFC Executive Committee, which will meet on Thursday. However, the members decided to hold the final of the ACL on home and away basis next year.
The proposals from the AFC Asian Cup Task Force were presented and approved for the 2019 edition onwards. The members agreed to maintain 16-team Finals for 2019 and the winners of the AFC Challenge Cup 2016 and 2018 will no more get direct slots in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup but will have to play the play-offs with the two best remaining teams from the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers who failed to qualify for the Finals.
The committee also approved DPR Korea’s exclusion from future AFC Challenge Cups and maintain automatic qualification for top three teams from the 2015 edition in the next edition.
Taking into consideration the views of AFC Technical Committee, the members decided to maintain a format of festival for U-14 age group rather than organising AFC U-14 Championship.
The committee also approved AFC Calendar for 2013, AFC Asian Cup 2019 bidding procedure and timeline, 2014 AFC Challenge Cup regulations, 2014 AFC U-19 and U-16 Championships regulations, participation of Selangor in the 2013 AFC Cup, format for 2013 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup R16 and the final, Tajikistan clubs’ participation in the AFC Cup, Palestinian club’s participation in the AFC President’s Cup, formation of a panel to investigate match-fixing cases.
All decisions of this committee need to be ratified by the AFC Executive Committee to take effect. www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/inside-afc/676-afc-news/40629-maldives-to-host-2014-afc-challenge-cup
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Post by benzgm on Nov 28, 2012 16:43:43 GMT 8
The proposals from the AFC Asian Cup Task Force were presented and approved for the 2019 edition onwards. The members agreed to maintain 16-team Finals for 2019 and the winners of the AFC Challenge Cup 2016 and 2018 will no more get direct slots in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup but will have to play the play-offs with the two best remaining teams from the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers who failed to qualify for the Finals. The committee also approved DPR Korea’s exclusion from future AFC Challenge Cups and maintain automatic qualification for top three teams from the 2015 edition in the next edition.
Taking into consideration the views of AFC Technical Committee, the members decided to maintain a format of festival for U-14 age group rather than organising AFC U-14 Championship. www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/inside-afc/676-afc-news/40629-maldives-to-host-2014-afc-challenge-cupSo this means that DPR Korea can, and might, still join in 2014, and if so, would the 2nd slot be given to the runner-up? The play-off for the Challenge Cup winners make the road to the Asian Cup becomes a bit harder for the "developing" nations, but ultimately, it raises the level of competition in the Asian Cup.
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Post by stellarboy on Nov 28, 2012 17:04:31 GMT 8
That's enough. I'm sick of South Asian nations just making the cut to host these low-tiered AFC competitions. I'm questioning the AFC on how they made basis on choosing Maldives to host over the Philippines, but I already had a gut feeling this would happen, based on this previously-published article: Maldives has a good chance of hosting AFC Challenge Cup: FAMMohamed Hamdhoon, Haveeru Online Nov 24, 2012 - 02:05 Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Ali Azim said today that Maldives has a good chance of winning the bid to host the 2014 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup. Maldives bid to host this year’s Challenge Cup was turned down in favor of Nepal. Maldives and Philippines have been short listed for the bid to host the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. “Actually Nepal was awarded to host this year’s Challenge in light of the circumstances. A lot of AFC Executive member said Maldives will be given precedence next time. So I am confident that Maldives bid will be successful this time,” Azim said in a phone interview from Thailand where he is currently lobbying Maldives' bid.
He also noted that Government of Maldives has assured the AFC officials that it will extend all necessary cooperation which would further boost Maldives’ chances.
“Usually Governments won’t give such assurances. But our government has assured AFC officials that it will give full support. So it will be a big advantage for our bid,” Azim said.
Final decision regarding the bid will be made in the AFC executive committee meeting scheduled for November 29. AFC will give automatic qualification to the host the nation while the winning team of the tournament will be given automatic qualification for the Asian Cup. Maldives has never hosted Challenge cup finals but the qualifying matches of the Maldives’ group in 2009 and 2011 were played here. Azim also said that if Maldives secures the bid, the tournament will be hosted in Male and Addu city. South Asian giants India’s bid has not been shortlisted this year which had prompted the Indian Football Federation to demand a clarification from AFC of the reasons why India had been overlooked. Bangladesh hosted the first ever Challenge cup in 2006, India followed in 2008 and Sri Lanka were the hosts in 2012. Nepal hosted the last edition of the tournament in March this year. www.haveeru.com.mv/sports/45775
Classic AFC politics indeed. I now feel the other emerging nations, especially the Asean ones, would not be given precedence in future tourneys if this persists.
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Post by lychee on Nov 28, 2012 18:57:54 GMT 8
Congrats to Maldives for winning the bid to host to AFC CC!!! Philippines needs to go through qualifying.. PHL can do that!! WE believe!
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Post by dingodile5 on Nov 28, 2012 20:13:07 GMT 8
I hope PHI will be chosen as one of the host for a group stage qualifiers Well that's our last straw to host a piece of Challenge Cup. For sure we are now in group stage qualifiers and won't pass the 1st qualification stage.
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Post by Caz on Nov 28, 2012 23:11:52 GMT 8
Yeah we finished third, after all. We *should* get a bye to the group stage.
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Post by cjeagle on Nov 29, 2012 0:27:33 GMT 8
Congratulations to Maldives. My guess is we will be allowed to host one of the group stage qualifiers as a consolation prize. I think the determining factor for choosing Maldives is the all out support that the government of Maldives has given to their bid which assured the AFC that any preparations towards a successful hosting will be unhindered and any problems that come up can be easily remedied. The PFF had an attractive bid, but did not have the government backing that helped the Maldives bid. It is not as a big deal for us anyways as we are one of the favorites to qualify for the finals competition in the Challenge Cup.
My next question is if we continue rising in the AFC FIFA rankings, how will the AFC determine who will compete in the Asian Cup qualifying competition for the 2019 Asian Cup? Will it be better for us to compete in the AFC Challenge Cup where only the winners will have a chance to play in the playoffs or will we be bundled into the main AFC qualifying competition proper? It might be better for us to enter the AFC qualifying competition proper despite the greater challenges we will have to face, in the future because of the fact that this competitions will likely be scheduled on FIFA match dates and therefore we will be assured of being able to use the best players for those games.
Apparently the AFC will continue allowing developing nations to compete in the Challenge Cup instead of reserving it for the emerging nations category. What therefore will stop middle ranked developing nations who are currently in the main Asian cup qualifying competition to opt to compete in the Challenge Cup competitions instead? The AFC should delineate clearly who will be allowed to participate in the future to avoid any confusion as well as minimize any allegations of bias in the selection process.
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Post by jpmanahan on Nov 29, 2012 1:58:59 GMT 8
North Korea is not participating in the 2014 edition.
Do note that there is still no clarity as to how qualification is to take place between 18 nations in determining the remaining 7 teams joining the Maldives in the finals.
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Post by narko on Nov 29, 2012 9:35:04 GMT 8
Better to go through the qualifying route, more matches for our national team. The more opportunities for our team to play the better for its development.
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Post by Caz on Nov 29, 2012 13:47:59 GMT 8
Hmm, I think if we do well in this next Challenge Cup, we should consider going through the motions of having ourselves promoted from the "Emerging" category of AFC nations, whatever those may be. And yeah, we'll have to slug it out in the qualification process for the Asian Cup. We'll theoretically have better opposition and it'll pave the way to keep moving onward and upward. But if we don't do well... then in the Challenge Cup we remain. Still, automatic qualification in the next Asian Cup is still possible with this next Challenge Cup. So we have to push for the win!
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