There is much talk these days about Chinese football grassroots/youth development, or lack thereof to be more specific. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Tom and Mr Lu, one of the architects of the CSF Program

Yes, it is true, “Reality Bites”, if you look at post-USA 1994 when China was ranked 50th in the World and Japan 55th. Today China is ranked 98th while Japan is 29th. Yes, the FIFA Rankings aren’t always the best indicator of where a country’s level is but it gives you a reference point on how a country is doing.

There are differencing opinions on why Chinese football has taken a wrong turn. One popular opinion is the one Child Policy. Parents see sport as a distraction to education. Do you encourage academics over athletics?

Back in 2011 there were only 7,000 registered players with the CFA between the ages of 13 to 19. This compared with Japan’s 500,000 for the same age group.

Another opinion is that China has separate Ministries of Sport and Education whereas in Japan these two posts are held by one Ministry.

In order to get China back on the Road to Football recovery, the Chinese School Football Program was created in 2009. This is the first time that the joint Ministries, both Education and Sport, were directed by the State Council to cooperate in developing a program to implement football into education, hence the creation of the Chinese School Football Program. This is a 10 year Program which is divided up into 3 different Stages.

Stage 1: June 2009 to August 2013
2009-2011 Elementary School (4th to 6th grade) and Junior High School (7th grade to 9th grade) program kick off.
2012-2013 Senior High School (10th to 12th grade) and College program kick off.

Stage 2: September 2012 to August 2014
Improve program and ensure quality control for future expansions.

Stage 3: September 2013 to August 2018
Create demand from children, parents and schools to grow the program in a sustainable and stable manner.

Currently, there are approximately 120 Cities, 6,000 plus Schools and approximately 2.3 million (yes, million) children in the program.

What this means is, 2.3 million children receive football instruction on average three hours per week in their school. From that 2.3 million, approximately 10% are part of an organised team training on a regular basis, three to four times a week.

To give more insight into how the program is administered, the CSF Office works with Provinces and Cities who have a direct link to the Schools.

In August 2012, my company, T3, was appointed Official CSF Head Technical Advisor & Grassroots Ambassador to the Chinese School Football Program. We are providing content and instruction for the program by developing a multi-media platform similar to what we did in Japan.

Tom delivers the CSF Program

The biggest difference compared to Japan is this program actually has a Government policy behind it and Japan did not. Japan’s program that I was involved in was purely a commercial, private venture where today we have over 100+ technical Schools throughout the country with approximately 16,000 children participating.

We spent two decades educating the Japanese on the importance of technical development through a variety of different programs. From our experience in Japan I believe we are in a position to advise the CSF Program on shortcuts to implementing a similar program to Japan, but with much higher impact.

To detail this program a bit more, the multi-media platform is a work in progress which will eventually deliver technical content through multiple channels (i.e., TV, apps/video streaming, newspapers & magazines, microblog/Weibo, Portal/Website).

Some of this has already started, on the CSF’s Weibo account and website we have uploaded all of the DVD content which includes 36 individual lessons to improve your technique. This will empower players, coaches and parents in helping to guide children in the right direction to improve their skills.

These lessons have already been watched by millions of people over the past few months and this is only the beginning. We are developing new content and coming up with new channels for delivery.

And just to show the interest, my personal Weibo account which was started approximately nine monthss ago has already grown to over 210,000 followers. This account is used to inspire and motivate the followers to assist in spreading the word on the importance of youth development, specifically, the intense practice of ball manipulation and technique.

The concept we devised for Japan was to empower players, parents and coaches with the tools needed to create strong technical players which led to infecting an entire generation with the belief that technique is the foundation upon which you build all other facets of the game. We made teaching and learning a cool thing to do!

What needs to be done in order to create a paradigm shift in China’s overall level is, to close the gap between the very worst and the very best players. It must be done at the very young ages first and trickle up. Japan has accomplished this and that is the reason for their current success.

There is no quick fix for Chinese football and it will take years to get it right. But I am confident that we will have success through the Chinese School Football Program and that this could become the model program for other countries to follow in the future.

There has never been a program like this that I have ever seen anywhere else in the world. A program which has a Government policy behind it!

Here is a quote that stands out from October 12, 2009:

“China must have determination to develop its football….but this will take a long time.” Vice President of People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, who is now the current President.

Another quote worth repeating:

“Starting from young kids, properly develop the China School Football Program…The Party and the State Council are positioning Youth Sports development at a National Strategic Level.”

Ms. Liu Yandong, Member of 17th Central Politburo of Communist Party of China and State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China, Oct. 14th, 2009. This perhaps, the most powerful Women in China.

And although it’s great to have David Beckham come through China on a whirlwind media tour which has shed light on the Chinese School Football Program, it’s really the coaches and teachers working at the CSF Schools that are the real heroes.

So let’s all get behind the CSF Program and hope for the best. Because if we don’t get it right with this organisation, it could be much longer before we see China back at the top level of football on both a regional and global level!

Determined.

It’s one word that perfectly describes China’s Zhang Jiaqi, a man who has known what he wants from an early age and who left China on his own as a 16-year-old to get it.

Zhang after signing with Le Mans

That goal was to play in Europe. Not just play in Europe, to make it in Europe. In one of Europe’s big leagues, and slowly it seems as though the now 21-year-old might be doing just that.

Born in Shenyang in Liaoning province Zhang has memories of growing up playing football from an early age after being inspired by French legend Zinedine Zidane at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

“I started to play football aged nine because from an early age I liked watching football, playing with balls and just wanted to try it,” he recalled.

“My idol growing up was France’s star Zinedine Zidane. I loved him after watching the 1998 World Cup and just wanted to go and play football.”

Zhang knew that he wanted to play in Europe and when he was just 16 made the decision to move to Europe, on his own, to try his luck.

“I was 16 when I arrived in France. I came because, from an early age, my dream was to play football in Europe,” he told Asian Football Feast.

“I came to France together with my agent and he organised several clubs for me to go on trial with.

“However, even after I came to Le Mans on a two week trial I did not think that the club owners would want me to stay. I also understood that Le Mans is a club that develops young players and felt every aspect was suited to me, so I chose to come here.

“At the time I had many French clubs to trial with, but after coming here I felt it really suited me. The club’s scouts liked me and the owners liked me, so I stayed.”

Like every player when they first move abroad, especially one as young as 16, the early years were tough, especially when you don’t speak the language. There are plenty who would have chucked it in. But not Zhang.

“Of course there were times I wanted to return home,” he said.

Zhang makes a tackle in a game against SM Caen

“It was difficult when I first arrived because the language is not the same. However, since then, I have slowly got used to the environment here and my French is now much better.

“At that time I was a child, but these things meant little compared to my dream. At that time I just wanted to fulfil my dream and prove that I could play football in Europe.”

Over the last three or four years Zhang has progressed, moving from the club’s junior ranks to their reserve team playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth tier of French football.

In 2011 he achieved a major milestone with the signing of his first professional contract.

While it might not be the highest level, it has given Zhang a good grounding and allowed him time in the system to develop his game.

While opportunities with the senior side have been few and far between, he is not in any rush to leave in the pursuit of more regular first team football.

“It’s not too bad, I guess. I believe that through hard work an opportunity will come soon,” he said.

“It would be the same anywhere. That’s to say, I have been at Le Mans for some time now and I am very familiar with it here. If a better opportunity were to arise then I would also consider it.”

Reports surfaced last year that strongly linked him with a move back to China to join Shanghai Shenhua alongside Nicholas Anelka and Didier Drogba. The reports suggested it was a done deal, but it never eventuated and Zhang stayed in France.

“I still wasn’t ready to go home because I want to play here for many years,” he recalled.

It might have been a good move with signs that his career in Europe might just be starting to take off.

After a breakout season in 2011/12, which saw him play 23 games and score three goals, his current season form has also been impressive. So much so that in recent months he has been called up to the senior squad, making his debut in early February in a 1-1 draw against Clermont.

In just his third game for Le Mans in Ligue.2 he achieved another major milestone, scoring his first goal in a 3-2 win over Niort. The goal, in the 80th minute, ultimately proved to be the winner. His next outing was also as memorable, but not for a good reason. Two yellow cards saw him sent off and it took him over a month to get his spot in the side back.

While that would suggest his form is good, the man himself has a different opinion.

Zhang in action for Le Mans

“Personally, I think it’s (his form) ok. However, if compared with last year, I don’t think my performances are as good,” he said honestly.

“Because last summer I returned to the squad late, I did not have a full pre-season and it has definitely impacted my performance. However, it is slowly returning.”

While the man who handed him his debut, Denis Zanko, was replaced as coach of Le Mans early last week, when he spoke to Asian Football Feast recently he was full of praise for midfielder.

“Jiaqi has been at the club many years and we know him. He’s a very good player, that works well and give always his best for the team,” he said.

“After beginning of season complications (Zhang was injured during pre-season and returned to training later than normal), Jiaqi worked hard and deserved his debut with the first team.

“Jiaqi had a good performance with the professional team. He has an important role protecting our defense and participating to the offensive play as well. He’s improving but now he has to learn match after match.”

Zhang now has to impress new coach Regis Beunardeau. The fact he was included in the starting line-up for his first match is charge is a good sign. What’s not is that Le Mans is currently in the relegation zone with just four games remaining and face a fight if they are to survive and avoid the drop to Championnat National next season.

But having come so far already in his career, whatever happens over the next month you know Zhang won’t give up the fight. It’s just not his style.

The biggest dream of many South-East Asian football fans is set to be launched in 2015, the long talked about ASEAN Super League (ASL).

What would the ASEAN Super League mean for domestic leagues?

As with most new things, this newly formed league has presented both pro and cons.

Firstly, let’s look at the positives. It is a good way to develop South-East Asia football. Players will get more playing experiences to improve their standards, as well to decrease the gap between each other within the region, particularly to the other regions across Asia.

For fans, they have something to which can be supported at regional level apart from another tournament such as AFF Suzuki Cup and SEA Games.

Having clubs from their respective countries competing to win the ASL, or at least doing well, in wider perspective would provide far more satisfaction than excelling in each domestic leagues.

Aside from the excitement, minor details have also been released regarding the concept. The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has announced that ASL will adopt a nine-month season with franchises for each ASEAN nation.

It means several new teams will be established for the league and there will be no clash between AFC and domestic fixtures. But, bear in mind new clubs might have a hard time getting off the ground.

Culturally in Indonesian football, the current well-established clubs’ popularity is ingrained among the fans. Based on the previous experiences, when the new teams were formed in those cities during Liga Primer in 2011, establishing a new team will be hard to gain massive support from the fans – no matter how good the players are. Indeed, nothing is impossible but it is hard to see fans flocking to the stadium.

Besides Indonesia, Vietnam are also experiencing the severe financial problems within V-League, with some clubs being forced to fold, and it is an issue that shows no sign of fading, resulting in a reduction of crowd numbers in recent periods.

In Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar, where the domestic leagues are developing and maturing every day, it will be a hard-task for the new ASL established-club management to attract some attention from either fans or football stakeholders.

In Singapore, the local league itself has been plagued by falling attendances in recent years. With the presence of ASL, it will provide too many football choices, and is likely to further dilute the fan base – not a good idea for a country with a small population.

Moreover for some “developing ” nations like Laos, Philippines and Cambodia, which are just starting to establish new leagues, the presence of the ASEAN Super League probably could hinder the potential development of each domestic leagues.

Despite all their enthusiasm, there will be plenty work to do for the ASEAN Super League organisers to carve out a segment of the football market among the football mad inhabitants across South-East Asia.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United. Malaysia’s fascination with the English Premier League is well-documented, so perhaps it’s only appropriate that five of the Premier League’s biggest clubs – as well as um, Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers – have paid our tropical shores a visit within the past decade.

Dutch striker Robin van Persie playing for Arsenal against Malaysia in a recent pre-season tour

Since 2008, a Malaysian XI (mainly comprising national team players) has played Premier League clubs with such regularity, it has almost become an annual summer event.

Fans have grown so accustomed to having some of the biggest names in world football pop by the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, that pitting a club side against a side that is essentially the Malaysian national team is hardly seen as an unusual occurrence, as it would if the roles were reversed. England vs. Kaizer Chiefs? Italy to play Muangthong United? How unlikely.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie. And due to Malaysia’s measly current FIFA World Ranking of 164, we are hardly in the best bargaining position to organise friendly matches against quality opposition. Thank goodness, then, for these big English club sides, sating our thirst for quality European football. Can’t make it to Stamford Bridge? Chelsea FC will come to you!

This year seemed no different. Chelsea and Spanish titans Barcelona announced plans to play friendly matches during the summer. The Blues would be making their third visit to Malaysia in the last five years, while it will be Barça’s maiden trip here. Malaysian fans are ecstatic at the prospect of Lionel Messi gliding about on Bukit Jalil’s sandy turf.

And then it got even better. Various news sources reported last week that the Netherlands might visit Kuala Lumpur to play a friendly against Harimau Malaya, with The New Straits Times rather misleadingly announcing that “The Dutchmen are coming”, while it was still under negotiation.

Not since a friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2001 have we had the opportunity to play a European national team. Sure, English club sides are some of the best in the world, but this is the Netherlands! European Championship winners! Founders of Total Football! Conversely, Harimau Malaya’s recent friendly opposition include Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and various other Southeast Asian neighbours, so it would be fair to say the Dutch are on a different planet.

But first, the facts. The Dutch national football team will embark on a ten-day Asia Tour this summer, playing Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 7th June and China at the Worker’s Stadium on 11th June. The Netherlands have historical ties with Indonesia.

In the footballing sense, several players born in Indonesia and Suriname have represented Oranje in the past, and vice versa. This trip was first mentioned in autumn last year, with coach Louis van Gaal claiming in October 2012 that he believed that the tour is financially-motivated, a comment which was predictably poorly-received in China.

While newspaper articles indicated that negotiations were still ongoing, and that bringing the Dutch here is far from being a done deal, one cannot help but be apprehensive as to the likelihood of this proposed international friendly materialising.

The New Straits Times article claims that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have “slated either June 6 or 10 for the friendly”, and that “Malaysia will face Singapore on June 4 and 7 in a two-leg international friendly and are likely to play the Dutch on June 10.”

The two-legged tie with Singapore represents one of the key aspects of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Malaysian and Singaporean Football Associations in July 2011, which states that both Associations seek to encourage more friendly matches at national and youth level between both nations, over the span of four years, from 2012 onwards.

If Malaysia are to play Holland on the 6th, that match would be a day before their respective games against Singapore and Indonesia. Of course, the Dutch could bring a huge squad and fully-utilise it by deploying two separate teams in each half, or the match could be played at half-pace, but even the most naïve football fan could tell you that playing two international games in two different (albeit neighbouring) countries in the space of two days is a daft idea.

Furthermore, a match on the 10th is definitely out of the question, as Jakarta and Beijing are almost 3,000 miles apart. With an evening kick-off at the Worker’s Stadium likely, surely it would be implausible that the KNVB would allow their players to play an international match mere hours after arriving from an eight-hour journey. What about acclimatisation?

But can the Dutch bring a huge squad on their Asia Tour? An additional complication is the European Under-21 Championship, which begins on 5th June in Israel, and Oranje are grouped with Spain, Germany, and Russia. Robust opposition.

Tournament regulations allow players who are aged up to 23 years of age to participate, as long as they were 21 or under when the tournament qualification process began. Consequently, players like Stefan de Vrij, Ricardo van Rhijn, Bruno Martins Indi, Daley Blind, Jordy Clasie, Adam Maher, Leroy Fer, Georginio Wijnaldum, Luuk de Jong, and Tonny Vilhena might not make the Asian trip, if they are selected for the U-21 Euros. This might greatly reduce the number of squad players available, probably resulting in call-ups for older players or youngsters who didn’t make the trip to Israel, to pad out the squad.

As such, I’m doubtful that a deal could be struck to schedule a match on the dates mentioned in The New Straits Times’ article. When brought to the attention of Dutch football expert Mohamed Moallim, he said that it was “too late in the day to be negotiating”, and that it is “not fair on the players”.

Fair point, and since summer 2013 is the first real break Holland’s international footballers have had since 2011 (despite an early Euro 2012 exit), club gaffers will not be pleased that their star players are traipsing through Asia, playing glorified exhibition games, even though ironically, they’ll probably end up doing something similar a month later with their respective clubs.

Then again, a financially-appealing package tends to smooth out even the most complicated of negotiations. As van Gaal succinctly put it, “We do this because of the money, and we try to make it a nice trip.” Time will tell if the Dutch add another stop to their itinerary.

From as young as he can remember, all Norikazu Murakami has wanted to do is play football. He speaks about the game with such passion, with such love. It’s all he knows.

Norikazu during his time in South Africa with Platinum Stars

Murakami, the youngest of two brothers, was born in Osaka but spent most of his childhood in Yokohama.

“The only thing I remember (from my childhood) is wanting to play football,” he recalls.

“I was always kicking a ball with friends.”

His talents were soon spotted by Yokohama Flugels, becoming part of the youth set-up at the club that would merge with rival Yokohama club Marinos to become Yokohama F.Marinos.

“I learned a lot of things about how to be professional in terms of behaviour and attitude. Every day we fought to be better,” he recalled to Asian Football Feast.

But it wasn’t enough, and a full-time contract with the club wasn’t forthcoming, and he had to look for opportunities elsewhere. That “elsewhere” would be Singapore, with Albirex Niigata’s satellite side – Albirex Niigata.S. And so began a career that would take him around the world from Asia to Africa and, eventually, to Europe.

His time in Singapore was a nomadic one, playing with four different clubs in five years.

“When I moved one to other, every move was to (a) better club. It meant a challenge all the time,” he said.

After five years in Singapore it was time for a new challenge, and during 2009 he was offered the chance to trial at South African side Platinum Stars, impressing coach Steve Komphela enough to be offered a contract.

“When I got an offer of trial, I thought it was a very good environment and atmosphere and at the same time I had an interest to play against African players,” he said.

“African players are very good physically and (have good) technique as you know, so I thought it is chance to improve as a player.”

The remoteness and cultural differences presented a challenge early on.

“There is a Safari only five minutes away from our training base, but we were living far from the training base, near Johannesburg, about 100km one-way.

“It was a hard time for me for the first three or four months. I was struggling with weather because of thin air.

“But the people there were very nice and kind to us. So actually we could spend very nice time there.”

Despite scoring four goals in ten starts, Murakami was put up for transfer at the end of the season, a decision that came as a shock to the striker.

Norikazu spent a year with Golden Arrows in South Africa

“Yes, I was very surprised with the news. It was unfair I felt,” he told Asian Football Feast recently.

So a new season meant another new club, moving to the Durban-based Golden Arrows.

“It (living in Durban) was very different from Johannesburg. People, weather, culture. Like a different country,” he reminisced.

“But everyone knew me before I reached there, so it was easy to adjust.”

Despite the ease in adjusting to his new surroundings, Murakami struggled to hold down a regular place in the side, featuring just 13 times for his new side. The end of the season meant the search was on for another new club.

And while he was tempted to return to Japan, Murakami had his eyes set on Europe.

But he would have to be patient, having to wait almost 16 months before an opportunity would present itself. He moved to Germany and kept fit by training with an amateur club and started learning German – just one of six languages he now speaks, the others being Japanese, English, Chinese, Portuguese and Italian.

Finally in January of this year, after impressing on trial, he signed with Alemannia Aachen, in the German third division.

His debut came against Saarbrucken on 26 January, coming on just before the hour mark. He has made eight appearances since, four as a starter and four as a substitute.

But after so long out of the game, he is desperate to become a regular member of the side.

In January this year he signed with Alemannia Aachen in Germany

“I think I am fit. I just need more playing time. I’m not happy with my playing time,” he said honestly.

While he strives to achieve his goals on the pitch, off the pitch his life has changed as well. Now 31, Murakami is the father to two young children and spends his time away from football playing with them, or reading a good book.

Despite being 31, he has yet to give any serious thought to life after football, determined to continue playing for at least another four years.

“I want to play as long as possible. So I cannot say when the end will be,” he declared.

“But (I want to keep playing until) minimum 35-years-old and from there I just keep trying.

“I don’t know yet (what I will do after football). But I want to do something about football. Football is my passion. I cannot think of my life without it.”

Twenty years after first starting the game, the passion still burns.

Here at AFF it is our mission to bring you the latest, up-to-date information from all across Asia, helping spread the word of Asian football to a wider audience. Over the last two years we have developed a strong network of correspondents and contributors who have helped make AFF what it is.

Such is the modern world, especially the world of media, information and news needs to be available ASAP to make it relevant. Unfortunately, given this website is not a professional, money-making website, this is a significant challenge for AFF and one we have found too difficult to overcome.

So AFF will change its focus, moving away from a news-based website to a more feature, opinion based website. Looking over the website statistics it is obvious that some of our most popular articles have been our feature stories, interviews and opinion pieces. So this is the area we will focus on.

What this will mean is that the website will not be updated as often as it has been in the past. It is still the intention to update the site at least once or twice a week, but obviously this will be dependent on the content. This will place less pressure on our team to have articles submitted and online in a timely manner and allow us to focus on bringing you in-depth, comprehensive stories from the amazing world of Asian football.

Our work on social media will not change, and we will continue to use social media, especially twitter, to report on the latest breaking news, link to match reports and highlights as well as continue to offer live tweeting from the AFC Champions League, AFC Asian Cup Qualifying and selected other tournaments and leagues across Asia.

If you don’t already, follow us on twitter to ensure you keep up-to-date with everything that is happening in Asian football.

We will be making some small changes to the website over the next few weeks to reflect the new changes. We hope that you will continue to support us and continue to visit AFF for your Asian football needs.

Paul Williams
Editor

Omar Abdulrahman (L) scored as Al Ain scored an impressive 3-1 win over Al Hilal in MD1

Al Ain, who won the maiden title in 2003 after beating Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana, opened their campaign at the end of February with an impressive 3-1 home win over two-time continental champions Al Hilal thanks to goals from Omar Abdulrahman, Alex Brosque and UAE Pro League top scorer Asamoah Gyan.

And after Cosmin Olaroiu’s side extended their lead at the top of the UAE Pro League table to eight points with a 2-1 win over Al Wasl on Thursday thanks to a double from Ghanaian striker Gyan, Al Ain will be full of confidence ahead of their trip to Tehran.

“Our philosophy is to face each match separately. We achieved a hard-fought victory against Al Wasl despite the fact that the players were tired and they were affected with fatigue,” said Al Ain’s Romanian coach Olaroiu.

“We are looking forward to the match against Esteghlal and our last win in the local league will give us a big push.

“We have a heavy schedule as we will be playing three matches in seven days and hopefully the players will not be affected.”

Esteghlal, though, will also be looking to build on opening their AFC Champions League campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Al Rayyan in Qatar after Amir Ghalenoei’s side stretched their lead at top of the Iran Pro League table to three points with a 1-0 win over Tractorsazi Tabriz on Friday.

Iran international Javad Nekonam, who also found the net against Al Rayyan two week ago, came off the bench to net the first half winner as Esteghlal edged out their fellow AFC Champions League qualifiers at Azadi Stadium despite playing over an hour with 10 men.

Also in Group D on Wednesday, two-time Asian Club Championship winners Al Hilal will entertain Al Rayyan without Salem Al Dawsari after the midfielder was sent-off against Al Ain.

In Group C, new Al Ahli coach Aleksandar Ilic will take his new charges to Dubai to face Al Nasr after beginning his reign with a 5-1 win over Narjan in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Despite 2012 finalists Al Ahli beginning their new continental campaign with a 2-0 home win over Qatar’s Al Gharafa, Czech coach Karel Jarolim parted company with the King’s Cup champions to be replaced by Serbian Ilic.

Play-off winners Al Nasr began their camping with a 3-0 defeat by Iran champions Sepahan, who travel to Qatar to face Al Gharafa on Wednesday.

In the East, China’s Beijing Guoan entertain J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Group G, while former champions Pohang Steelers travel to Tashkent to face two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor.

With Beijing looking to advance past the group stage for just the second time, Aleksandar Stanojevic’s side made an encouraging start two weeks ago with a goalless draw in Korea against Pohang before beginning the new Chinese Super League season with a timely 4-1 win over Shanghai East Asia.

Sanfrecce travelled to Beijing after registering a first win of the year at the weekend after beating Albirex Niigata 2-1 in the J.League having suffered a 2-0 home defeat by Bunyodkor two weeks ago.

Pohang also picked up their first three points of 2013 at the weekend with a 3-0 win over Daejeon Citizen’s in the K-League, while Bunyodkor’s strong start to the season continued with a 3-0 win over Nasaf in the Uzbek League on Friday.

In Group H, Korea Republic’s Suwon Bluewings entertain China’s Guizhou Renhe, while Australia’s Central Coast Mariners make the trip to Japan to face Kashiwa Reysol.

Two weeks ago, Suwon shared a goalless draw with Central Coast and Brazilian striker Cleo scored on the stroke of half-time as Emperor’s Cup winners Kashiwa edged out Guizhou in China.

On Saturday, 2011 semi-finalists Suwon maintained a perfect start to the new K-League Classic season with a 1-0 win over Gangwon, while AFC Champions League debutants Guizhou Renhe suffered a 2-1 defeat by Qingdao in their Chinese Super League opener.

Kashiwa will look to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat by FC Tokyo at the weekend, while A-League Premiers Central Coast are out to end a three game winless streak having followed their draw with Suwon with defeats by Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney in the A-League.

World Sport Group

Lee Dong-gook scored four goals during the 2012 ACL campaign

Having reached the final for a second time just six months earlier, Jeonbuk failed to advance past the group stage for the first time last year after being unable to recover from beginning the campaign with back-to-back 5-1 defeats by Guangzhou and Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol.

But after Jeonbuk began the 2013 edition with a 2-2 draw against Thailand champions Muangthong United last week, Korea Republic international Lee has backed K-League runners-up Jeonbuk to rediscover the form which led to the continental final and K-League title just 18 months ago.

“The failure in the group stage of the AFC Champions League last year was caused by injuries to key players. We won the same amount of games as the other teams in the group which means we were at the same level but we just failed to qualify from the group stage. But it now gives us more motivation for this season,” said 33-year-old Lee, who still managed to find the net four times in the AFC Champions League last season.

“The team has changed a lot this season due to military service and also some players have transferred to other clubs, but we still have a group of talented players and our pre-season training camp in Brazil helped bring the team together so I still expect that we will be challenge for titles this season.”

Veteran striker Lee was named Most Valuable Player after topping the scoring charts with nine goals as Jeonbuk reached the 2011 final only to lose on penalties at home to Qatar’s Al Sadd having joined the club in 2009 after spells at English side Middlesbrough and fellow K-League side Seongnam Ilhwa Chumna.

“I am now one of the most experienced players in the squad and I know what to do with the new players on the pitch, at training and also away from the team,” said Lee.

“As a senior player this is one of my responsibilities which I am happy to do for the club.”

And the 2009 and 2011 K-League MVP opened this 2013 account last week as Jeonbuk twice let slip a lead against Muangthong before being forced to settle for a point following Jung Hyuk’s unfortunate late own goal in the Group F opener after Belgian striker Kevin Oris had also struck at Thunderdome Stadium.

Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou, meanwhile, underlined their continental credentials as Marcello Lippi’s side followed up reaching the quarter-finals on their debut appearance last year with an impressive 3-0 home win over 2007 champions Urawa Reds ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

“Our group this year is very similar to last season. It will again be tough, but if we can stay away from unpleasant injures, we will be able to reproduce the performances from the 2011 AFC Champions League,” added Lee.

“It is not about gaining revenge against Guangzhou this year; we just want to qualify from the group stage by playing well. The games with them last year were great games to play in and I am looking forward to the same again this year.”

With Urawa also entertaining Muangthong at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday, K-League champions FC Seoul travel to Thailand to face Buriram United looking to build on last week’s 5-1 win over Chinese Super League runners-up Jiangsu Sainty.

Last season’s K-League top scorer Dejan Damjanovic and Yun Il-lok each scored twice for Choi Yong-soo’s side as the two-time quarter-finalists proved too strong for AFC Champions League debutants Jiangsu in their Group E opener.

Jiangsu will hope for a better result as Dragon Okuka’s side entertain Vegalta Sendai, who shared a 1-1 draw with Thai FA Cup winners Buriram in Japan last week.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Saudi Pro League champions Al Shabab travel to the United Arab Emirates to face Al Jazira in Group A, while Qatar’s El Jaish entertain Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz.

Last week, Al Shabab strolled to a 2-0 win over tournament newcomers El Jaish, while Mehdi Seyed-Salehi, Javad Kazemian and Masoud Ebrahimzadeh scored as Tractorsazi marked their AFC Champions League debut with an impressive 3-1 win over Al Jazira.

Finally in Group B, Uzbekistan champions Pakhtakor also make the trip to the UAE to face Al Shabab Al Arabi, while Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq entertain Qatar champions Lekhwiya.

Pakhtakor will look to build on last week’s 1-0 home win over Al Ettifaq, while Lekhwiya will also be searching for a second win of the campaign after first half goals from Sebastian Soria and Youssef Msakni secured a 2-1 comeback victory over play-off winners Shabab Al Arabi.

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Round Two of the J.League kicks off at 1pm JST as Sanfrecce Hiroshima travel to chilly Niigata to play Albirex.

Sanfrecce are looking for their first win of the new season

The defending champions will be disappointed with their start to the season in failing their first test in last week’s big clash against the Reds and whilst the home side has one of the tighter defences in the league it is difficult to imagine that they will be able to keep the likes of Hisato Sato, Koji Morisaki and Naoki Ishihara quiet for the afternoon.

Three games begin at 2pm, firstly FC Tokyo host Kashiwa Reysol, a match that brings two of the biggest signings of the 2013 season onto the one pitch: Tadanari Lee for the hosts, and Kashiwa Reysol’s Cleo. The battle in the midfield could be heady as Reysol’s Leandro Domingues and the Gasmen’s Aria Hasegawa are both known for their lack of discipline.

As both teams will surely feature near the top of the table at the season’s end this is an important game, FC Tokyo will want to capitalise on their half-year with Lee and Reysol will be looking for a better start to the season whilst juggling continental and local competitions than they did last year.

For the second week running Kashima Antlers face a team known for it’s physicality as Vegalta Sendai come to Ibaraki with hardened resolve after a shock draw to promotees Kofu in the first round. The hosts will be encouraged by their showing against Sagan Tosu last week, and will likely take the play to the Tohoku-based team.

This will suit Sendai as well, who will try to boss the midfield, play on the counter and close the game down if they net the first goal. Davi is yet to find his feet in the top flight for the Antlers, but Yuya Osako has started the season brightly whilst midfielder Ryang Yong Gi is an ever-present danger for Vegalta, not to mention forward Shingo Akamine.

Ventforet Kofu should be buoyed by their performance against Sendai last week and will be aiming for three points at home against the only remaining Kansai team in the competition, Cerezo Osaka. The fourteenth place getters in 2012, Cerezo will be seeking to improve upon last year’s poor showing, yet after a last-gasp victory over Albirex to start the new season it’s not yet certain if they’ve made the improvements they need to move up the table.

The main threat for the home team to watch out for is Cerezo’s Yoichiro Kakitani, a player who has a knack of scoring goals from even the slightest of chances.

At Outsourcing Stadium in Shizuoka a battle of the generations will take place between Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama F-Marinos. Afshin Ghotbi, manager of the home team S-Pulse, has spent the last two years slowly moving on older players and bringing in a faster, more exciting group of younger players with an eye to developing a team that hopes to enjoy continued success over the long-term.

His counterpart, F-Marinos’ Yasuhiro Higuchi has decided to stick with experience, employing no less than four starters aged thirty-five and over this season. Shimizu will want to make amends for not bringing home three points against Omiya last week, Toshiyuki Takagi and Bare will be looking to open their scoring accounts for the season. For the visitors, the key players are Shunsuke Nakamura and Marquinos, although Manabu Saito has shown he is looking for a big season, grabbing both a goal and an assist against Bellmare in Round 1.

Kawasaki Frontale will be looking for all three points against newly promoted Oita Trinita at Todoroki from 3pm, though the latter may prove a more difficult nut to crack than the home team expect. With midfielders who drop back deep when not in possession yet are quick to get forward once the ball is turned over, Oita gave a spirited showing against FC Tokyo last week and only a keeping error separated the two.

If stalwart playmaker Kengo Nakamura is still out injured, Frontale may struggle to unlock the Trinita defence, although new signing Yoshito Okuba will be keen to get on the scoresheet for the Kanagawa outfit.

Having come away from Nagoya with a well-earned draw last week, Jubilo Iwata will also be looking for the win when they host Omiya Ardija this weekend. The biggest question hanging over this game is whether striker Ryoichi Maeda can open his scoring account for the season and inflict the “Maeda Curse” upon perennial strugglers Ardija (the team that Maeda has scored his first goal for the year against in the past six seasons has gone on to be relegated).

Yet Omiya showed promising signs in their draw with S-Pulse last week and manager Zdenko Verdenik may be tempted to keep influential Slovenian forward Zlatan Ljubijankic on the pitch for closer to the full 90 minutes if they are in with a chance for a win as the second half winds down.

Urawa Reds’ start to the season is one of the more difficult to have been dealt in the fixture, firstly facing defending champions Hiroshima and now this week Nagoya Grampus. No longer quite at the height of their powers that saw them win the 2010 championship, Grampus nonetheless remain a tough opponent, capable of absorbing attacks then catching them on the short counter.

They are, however, prone to lapses such as shock defeats to Sapporo and Niigata last season and possibly without Tulio Tanaka (who went off injured during last week’s draw with Jubilo), could struggle away at Saitama Stadium especially given the form the Reds have started the season with. It still remains to be seen if Urawa have found their solution upfront in Shinzo Koroki, but with both Genki Haraguchi and Yosuke Kashiwagi combining well last week, the Reds may be able to afford some patience at the pointy end of the pitch.

In their first home game back in the first division, Shonan Bellmare welcome Sagan Tosu to the southern shores of Kanagawa. The two teams should be somewhat familiar with each other having played in the second division together a little over a year ago, whilst their differing approaches to the game should make for an entertaining contest.

Bellmare surprised most last week with a valiant effort against local rivals Yokohama, playing with a back three moving forward and dropping back to a back five in defence (as with both Urawa and Hiroshima), the speed on the counter of their midfielders and Quirino upfront in particular could catch many teams out this year. Playing at home they will most likely try to take the game to the visitors, although like last week this could see them opened up and left vulnerable to Tosu’s deadly counter attacks.

Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1pm k/o JST)
Kashima Antlers vs Vegalta Sendai (2pm k/o)
FC Tokyo vs Kashiwa Reysol
Ventforet Kofu vs Cerezo Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Yokohama F-Marinos
Kawasaki Frontale vs Oita Trinita (3pm k/o)
Jubilo Iwata vs Omiya Ardija
Urawa Reds vs Nagoya Grampus (4pm k/o)
Shonan Bellmare vs Sagan Tosu (7pm k/o)

Dejan Damjanovic

Damjanovic became just the third foreign player to win the K-League’s Most Valuable Player award in 2012 after his league-leading 31 goals fired FC Seoul to a second domestic crown in three years after finishing 17 points clear of runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

And with Ulsan Hyundai returning the AFC Champions League title to Korean hands for a third time in four years last season, Damjanovic is determined to continue the K-League’s proud history in the AFC Champions League having netted five goals as FC Seoul reached the quarter-finals in 2011.

“We want to make history in Korea this year and win both the K-League and the AFC Champions League. And personally, I want to be the top scorer in the K-League and the AFC Champions League and I think that is possible,” said the 31-year-old, who also finished as K-League top scorer in 2011 with 24 goals.

“I hope that I can transfer my goalscoring record in the K-League to the AFC Champions League. I have been preparing hard for this season and I will do my best to play well in the AFC Champions League.”

After joining FC Seoul prior to the 2008 season, Damjanovic has been named in the league’s Best XI for the last three seasons and has netted a total of 10 goals in the AFC Champions League after FC Seoul also reached the last eight in 2009.

“There are no easy games in the AFC Champions League. We need to stay focused and believe we can finally win the AFC Champions League,” added Damjanovic.

“We need to play like we did in the K-League in 2012 and then everybody will be happy. We will be focusing on the AFC Champions League to make sure it is FC Seoul’s turn to win.”

And Damjanovic and FC Seoul emphatically signalled their AFC Champions League intentions in 2013 as the Montenegrin and Yun Il-lok each scored twice as the K-League champions recorded a 5-1 win over Chinese Super League runners-up Jiangsu Sainty in last week’s Group E opener at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Damjanovic also found the back of the net last weekend as FC Seoul opened their K-League Classic campaign with a 2-2 draw against 2012 FA Cup winners and fellow AFC Champions League qualifiers Pohang Steelers.

“My target is always the same for every season, to be champion again. Last year we did not have a bad start like we did in 2011 and, most important in my opinion, we did not have any injuries,” he said.

“If I can help with the goals I score that’s better for me, but my personal goal is to try and catch Lee Dong-gook at the top of the K-League goalscoring chats. It’s a small difference and I am going to try and close that gap.”

After facing Damjanovic’s former club Incheon United in the K-League Classic on Saturday, FC Seoul travel to Thailand to face Buriram United in the AFC Champions League next week after the play-off winners recorded a 1-1 draw against Vegalta Sendai in Japan last week.

“We were very happy to make a good start with a big win and that has helped improve our confidence for the upcoming games in the AFC Champions League as our priority is to finish at the top of the group, ” said Damjanovic.

“I am very confident in my own ability at the moment and I will try and continue to score goals in the upcoming games.

“Buriram had a very good result last week, but for us that is not important as we are going there to take three points. It’s going to be a tough game, but I believe in my team 100%.”

Prior to joining FC Seoul in December 2007, Damjanovic spent a season with Incheon and has never failed to reach double digits in six seasons in Korea.

“The most important thing is adapting to playing in Korea and I didn’t have a problem doing this and that helped me blend into Korean football,” he added.

“I am also still hungry for trophies, maybe other players were too relaxed and that is a big mistake. I think of myself as Korean now. This is my seventh year and I am enjoying life.

“The K-League is becoming harder and more tactical every year. The national team players are also coming back to play in the K-League.”

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