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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

 

ISL is EPL of ASEAN

First off I would like to state categorically I hate the acronym EPL and never intend using it again.

For many years Indonesian football has had no problems attracting plenty of fair to middling African and Latin American players to its shores. They arrive, move from club to club for a while then move on, sometimes they even get paid on time.

But the FA's new ruling that clubs can now only field three non Asian foreigners with two Asians means that local clubs have has to get smarter about the game in the region. And it's a steep learning curve when you consider that one club felt that Lionel Lewis was African!

Instead of all these unknown journeymen clubs are now aiming for internationals from Singapore and Thailand as well as little known Aussies.

We have already seen the likes of Noh Alam Shah and Bahaikki join along with Precious, Mustafic Fahruddin and probably Muhammed Riduan. Now comes reports that Thai internationals Kosin and Rangsan will be lining up for Persib once the TPL has finished. Add Aussies Robbie Gaspar, a pioneer, and Josh Maguire and you can be sure interest in Indonesian football is going to explode.

And there's talk of many more being linked.

Atracting the players is one thing. Keeping them is another. Clubs have a responsibility to pay these guys what's due to them when it's due. If they don't, the deluge will soon stop.

They will also need to get smart when dealing with agents. We have already seen confusion when Arema claimed to have signed Baihakki and Mustafic based on some claims from somewhere.

The Thai and Singapore leagues end October/November. It is up to them to match Indonesia by getting out and sourcing quality talent to fill the void left by their own departing stars. Singapore is well placed to attract South Koreans and Japanese...if they could pay the salaries. And Thailand would be attractive to Europeans.

But for now all eyes will be on Indonesia and how these new guys cope. Jakarta Casual and Jakarta Casual TV will be following the game closely here like we have done the last four years. We will be at the games, talking to the players and coaches, and mixing with the fans to provide unrivalled English language coverage of the game. Bringing the Indonesian game to life...

Comments:
Hi "Me"..

Qualified yourself as the "unofficial" correspondent for the Lions in ISL??
 
eh?
 
So do you see Alam Shah and co reliving the successful days of the 1980s when Fandi Ahmad and David Lee were playing in Indonesia?
 
not sure they were glory days. they only stayed a season or so before leaving

mind fandi did score against arsenal in his last game for the club!
 
ISL will of course attract much attention from fellow neighbours with alot of Singaporean players.. with good management and not much political inteference, ISL can turn out as among the best league in Asia..before they attract more sponsor, i think they need to improve on facilities...
 
unfortunately good management and no political interference is just a dream for many clubs

and your right, infrastructure is poor. stadiums are owned by local govts who seem reluctnt to invest in repairs or improvements...compared with thailand
 
This comment has been removed by the author.
 
ISL cld do with S'pore management and S-league cld do with Indonesia $ & fans

Nothing can be perfect : )
 
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