Followers of the 2012 AFC Champions League will be able to tell you that Brisbane Roar’s campaign hasn’t got off to the start they would have liked.
Sitting equal last in their group with two points from three games, even the keenest Roar fan would tell you the chances of Brisbane advancing to the round of 16 are slim.
Roar fans will also be able to tell you that after Perth Glory’s victory over Wellington this past weekend, the Roar will certainly be present at the 2013 AFC Champions League.
Sure, it’s a nice consolation, but most fans would like to see some form of silverware in the cabinet other than the domestic title.
Enter the ASEAN Club Championship – an international club competition that has not been held since before Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation. As a ASEAN invitee member, Australia has the right to have one club compete in the 2012 edition of the competition.
The ASEAN Club Championship is a week-long competition that only involves South East Asian clubs and is held in July (the A-League off-season). The 2012 edition will be held in Laos.
With the likes of Thailand and Indonesia being the powerhouses of the competition, an Australian club walking away with silverware is very much a possibility.
Of course, Central Coast Mariners or Perth Glory could be crowned 2011-12 A-League champions and become Australia’s representative in the 2012 ASEAN Club Championship, but the Brisbane Roar have one foot in the door at the moment.
There is no reason why an A-League club wouldn’t compete in this tournament. Not only does it keep players match-fit during the off-season, it also allows the champion club a very good chance at international silverware while not jeopardising their domestic or Champions League campaigns.
It also gives a chance for younger players at a club to experience playing in Asia before their upcoming Asian Champions League campaign the following year.
The only question is whether the FFA and the champion club will accept the invitation to compete, or if they feel they are above this standard of play.
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