Pro League incentive for AFC Cup

[Dasher39]

Pro League incentive for AFC Cup (http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_166101277.html)
25 March 2008

KUALA LUMPUR – Participants in this year’s AFC Cup have been given an added incentive after the AFC Executive Committee announced that the two finalists will enter a play-off to qualify for the AFC Professional League, scheduled to be introduced in 2009.

While the winners of the play-off will earn a berth in the highly-anticipated professional league, the losers will gain automatic entry to the 2009 AFC Cup regardless of how they perform in their domestic campaign.

The next round of AFC Cup fixtures is scheduled for April 2, with defending champions Shabab Al Ordun from Jordan travel to Oman to take on Al Nahda.I hope 'Pro League' isn't going to be the name for the new AFC Champions League. That'd be a terrible name.

I like the idea that the winner of the AFC Cup gains entry into the AFC Champions League though.

[dechardonay]

there does need to be more cross-over of the "developed" nations and the "non-developed".

[NUFCMVFC]

Like the principle, hopefully in regards to "qualifying rounds" they have "lower" countries going up against eachother and "professional" nations go up against eachother so that there is always a certain number of developing football nations being represented

AFC Professional League is heinous name, keep it as Champions LEague IMO

[joey_m]

Like the principle, hopefully in regards to "qualifying rounds" they have "lower" countries going up against eachother and "professional" nations go up against eachother so that there is always a certain number of developing football nations being represented

AFC Professional League is heinous name, keep it as Champions LEague IMO

if its going to remain the "CHAMPIONS" league, then only champions should be allowed entry, unlike a certain other champions league.

[SoFli]

I highly doubt they'll get rid of the Champions League name. Professional League sounds more like something for countries where football being a professional sport is an impressive feat if you know what I mean. Don't know how something else could fit in between the Champions League and AFC Cup though, unless the Pro League is actually a UEFA Cup kind of thing.

[3_Libras]

Ummm.....well the UEFA Cup kind of thing IS the AFC Cup. Its the 2nd tier international competition second to the Asian Champions League. So the Pro League is either some 3rd out of the blue competition someone has dreamed up, or it will be the new name for the Asian Champions League which is most likely.

Maybe though, its just the "working title" sort of thing they've got going on. We can only hope its not going to actually be called Professional League.

[Ze Boy]

Professional League urgh no class

[SoFli]

Ummm.....well the UEFA Cup kind of thing IS the AFC Cup. Its the 2nd tier international competition second to the Asian Champions League. So the Pro League is either some 3rd out of the blue competition someone has dreamed up, or it will be the new name for the Asian Champions League which is most likely.

Maybe though, its just the "working title" sort of thing they've got going on. We can only hope its not going to actually be called Professional League.
Different kind of second tier though. UEFA Cup is for second tier teams from top leagues, AFC Cup is for the top teams from second/third tier countries. So while 5th place EPL sides go into UEFA Cup, Malaysian and Oman champions go to AFC Cup.

[Brad76]

if its going to remain the "CHAMPIONS" league, then only champions should be allowed entry, unlike a certain other champions league.

LOL! 100% agree, that "other' champions league should change it's name to something more relevant.

[juanpabloangel]

my team won the champions cup... manchester united have only won the champions cup once... I don't count their second "victory" as they weren't champions. However in Asia, we need to see the best 3 or 4 teams from the top leagues having a chance to qualify, as the less deveolped nations are just that, and their football is reflecting it.