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Emile Mbamba without doubt was one of the best foreign talents in the country. The Arema Malang striker had played at the highest level, scored in the UEFA Champions League. He was a bit young to have been there and done that but he had a career ahead of him.

He still does only not in Indonesia. Click to continue reading...

Next month sees the Merdeka Cup kick off in Malaysia with eight countries bidding to win the trophy won by Malaysia last year.

Seven of the countries have been confirmed while Kazakhstan have yet to confirm their attendance.

Despite Indonesia having postponed the ISL for a month so they could compete in this competition the Star doesn't include them! Click to continue reading...

The Merdeka Cup in Malaysia is an annual event which was won last year by the hosts who beat Myanmar 3-1 in the final.

This time around it is being played in October and will feature eight nations. According to the Star these are the confirmed participants:

Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Click to continue reading...

Apparently there is some Tournament Challenge Cup being hosted by Myanmar in November which Indonesia are considering entering. Possibly featuring the likes of India, China, Thailand, Maldives, India as well as Myanmar and Indonesia but at this moment no one is too sure whether it is to be an Under 23 comp or not. Click to continue reading...

The Indonesia Soccer League should be back with us this weekend with a few games scheduled for 9 pm kick offs to allow the players time to rest after breaking the fast and to inconvenience fans going home after the game.

06/09 Persik v PSM
07/09 Persija v PSIS,
07/09 Arema v Deltras

It is not yet clear whether or not Persija fans will be allowed to attend the game at Bung Karno on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

The new Thai coach Peter Reid started his new job yesterday and what happened? The Thai Prime Minister only goes and declares a state of emergency after disturbances between pro and anti government protesters left one person dead.

Reid, who admits to never having seen Thailand play and knowing little about Asian football, will have just a few weeks to run his eye over national players before the Thai Premier League finishes next month. Click to continue reading...

The draw for the tournament was held today in Jakarta.

Initially there will be a qualification round in Phnom Penh featuring Philipines, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. The top two will then join the six seeded teams and fight it out for the AFF Championship in December.

Defending champions Singapore return to Indonesia who they beat in the the first leg of the final 3-1 back in 2005 at a wet Bung Karno if I recall

Group A -

Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, 2nd Qualifier

Group B -

Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, 1st Qualifier

Two venues are to be used in Indonesia, Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta and Jaluk Harupat in Soreang, West Java.

Click to continue reading...

Defending champions Singapore have been drawn in Group A alongside Myanmar, co-hosts Indonesia and the qualifying round's runner-up for December's AFF Suzuki Cup 2008.Group A matches will be taking place in Indonesia.The lions will also face the qualifiers runner-up.As usual,top two teams will qualify for semi-final. Click to continue reading...

Indonesia v Myanmar 4-0
Brunei v Libya 1-5

Semi Finals Indonesia v Indonesia B
Libya v Myanmar

I was round the Bung Karno Stadium at the weekend and it was telling to see that a youth tournament was being widely promoted in the area while the Independence Cup less so. Click to continue reading...

It looks like Jacksen Tiago has packed his toothbrush and headed to Persipura to take charge of the Black Pearls. After a few months at the cash starved Persitara a toothbrush is probably all he can afford!

The Brazilian coach, formerly a prolific scorer for Persebaya, is also the last foreign coach to win the Indonesia League when he did so with the Surabaya side. Click to continue reading...

Mitra Kukar play in the Indonesian Premier League eastern Division where they sit in mid table oblivion.

Their lowly status doesn't stop them having possibly the best club web site I have come across so far. Oddly, for Indonesia, it looks to be regularly updated and has a message board where fans are thanked for their support! Click to continue reading...

The Indonesian FA are looking to open the nation's very own football academy next July in Lido, approximately 70 kilometres south of Jakarta.

I was talking with Marvin, head coach of SSI (the outfit which runs the Arsenal Soccer School) and he said plans allow for a 10 hectare site located in the foothills of West Java and linked to the capital city. Click to continue reading...

Thai Premier League

Army v KTB 0-2
Bangkok University v Tobacco 1-0
Port v PEA 0-2
Chonburi v Osotspa 1-1
Bangkok Bank v Bang Phra 0-0
TOT v Nakorn Pathom 3-2
Sintana v Bec Tero 6-2

Wow!

Bit of a goal fest in the TPL where yellow cards usually outnumber anything rippling the fish net behind the goal. Click to continue reading...

For good reason the match of the day in South East Asia today is in Malaysia where Selangor clash with a Kedah side on target for back to back trebles.

Meanwhile here in Indonesia we have an Independence Cup which has stopped for a weekend break! The ISL is on hold.

We are left with the Indonesian Premier League and there are a couple of more than interesting match ups in the two division league. Click to continue reading...

The first game of the Independence Cup, Indonesia B v Brunei, attracted something like 500 fans to the cavernous Bung karno Stadium which holds 88,000 people.

The later game, the one that kicked off at 9.15 and finished two hours later, had about 3,000.

Fans in Jakarta have been prevented from seeing any ISL games this season yet they are expected to just forget being treated like dirt and turn up in massive numbers on inconvenient weekday evenings to see weak opposition? Click to continue reading...

Indonesia won a game they dominated 2-0 thanks to goals from Rizky and Jajang.

Crap game, you gotta feel for the hundreds who paid to get in. Next up is Indonesia against Cambodia.

I'll pass on that. Seeing a local game finish at 11.15 is plain daft and obviously I'm not alone judging by the fans dressed as benches. Click to continue reading...

Indonesia's first Independence Cup since 2000 kicks off tonight at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Six teams are competing for the 67,000 USD prize money; Indonesia, Libya, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar and Indonesia B.

Tonight sees two games. The first kicks off at 6.30 pm while the second starts at 9. Click to continue reading...

After being dicked around all season three of Indonesia's nomadic clubs, Persita, Persitara and PSMS are being allowed to return to their home cities.

Persita can use the Benteng Stadium, PSMS their own stadium in Medan while Persitara must use Lebak Bulus.

Having spent the last few weeks playing far from home one wonders whether they can claim their expenses back from the ISL? Click to continue reading...

After an ISL meeting on Tuesday it was announced the League will have a two or three week break during October to allow the national side to compete in the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.

Typical stop start season here. Start July, stop August, start September, stop October, start late October stop December, start January. Click to continue reading...

South East Asia's only show that covers South East Asian football is back on Star Sports at 6pm Indonesian/Thai time every Tuesday.

As ever they will show highlights of games from the region.

This time round they also want to feature photographs people have taken at games. I know that many fans, especially here in Indonesia, don't have any cable TV but if you have some pictures of your Supporters' Club or your team in action then contact me and I will tell you what to do next. Click to continue reading...

Kedah are just three games away from unprecedented back to back domestic trebles with Terengganu from the north east of the peninslula standing in their way.

Tonight sees the first leg at Stadium Darul Aman.

In the other semi Selangor face Johor at Shah Alam Stadium.

I guess the smart money is on a Selangor v Kedah final. Click to continue reading...

I was shocked to hear the FA here does have a marketing team. I know, I saw him one day. Perhaps they can explain this little conumdrum that comes from their own website and advertising

This of course refers to the upcoming Independence Cup. Six teams, two groups of three, winners and runners up go through to the semi final. Click to continue reading...

Thanks to Jonny on Kallang Roar for this heads up.

According to the FIFA website Libya have a pretty hectic schedule in August. The 20th sees them playing Senegal.

However according to the Independence Cup schedule Libya arrive in Indonesia on the 19th and their manager will be at the manager's meeting the next day! Click to continue reading...

At a press conference yesterday the FA were forced to defend the quality of the upcoming Independence Cup.

Libya were once runners up in the African Cup of Nations but only when they hosted it while Cambodia and Brunei have had marginally less impact on the football stage than a three legged hedgehog. Click to continue reading...

What a bloody awful heading but hey?

Liberian striker Frank Seator has enjoyed a fruitful season in Malaysia where he has found goals easier to come by than he did in Indonesia.

Now with Malaysia deciding they don't need foreigners any more Seator must find a new club and rumour has it he is will head to Oman once Selangor have finished their Malaysia Cup campaign. Click to continue reading...

Never my favourite player Adolfo earned the gratitude of his coach at Persita Agus Suparman and his team mates by netting twice against PKT and earning his side their fourth point in two games.

The 26 year old Brazilian has been in Indonesia since 2002 when he first joined Gelora Putra Delta. Click to continue reading...

After a little flurry of excitement when the Indonesian FA website anounced a couple of Argentinian sides were on their way, (the page was quickly pulled down!), the schedule has been finalised for the first Independence Cup to be held in Indonesia since the last one.

As you can see everything is being done to maximise attendances after a feeble 2 or 3 thousand turned up for the recent friendly with the New Zealand Olympic side. Click to continue reading...

Suzuki Motor Corporation will be AFF Cup title sponsor and will be name AFF Suzuki Cup 2008.The biennial event will be co-hosted by Thailand and Indonesia in December following a five-team qualifying tournament in Cambodia in October. Six team have qualified automatically for the AFF Cup 2008.They are Singapore,Thailand ,Malaysia,Vietnam,Myanmar and Indonesia. Click to continue reading...

Indonesia Super League

05/08
Sriwijaya v Persela
Persijap v PKT Bontang
Persita v Persiba (Manahan Stadium, Solo)
Persib v Persik (Manahan Stadium, Solo)
Deltras v Persipura
PSM v Persiwa

06/08
PSMS v Persija (Jatidiri Stadium, Semarang)

07/08
Persitara v Arema (Manahan Stadium, Solo)

Indonesia Premier League

04/08
PSSB Bireuen v PSP Padang
PSDS v Semen Padang

05/08
Persiraja v Persisam Samarinda
PSAL v Mitra Kukar

06/08
Persikabo v Persibat Batang

07/08
Persikota v PSPS Pekanbaru
Persikad Depok v Persih Click to continue reading...

While watching the recent ASEAN Under 16s I made copious notes about the performances of Malayisa, Singapore and Indonesia sad git that I am.

My Singapore article appears on their FA website. The others I fear may never see the light of day though with the nonsense surrounding the ISL I pine evermore for the haclyon days at Lebak Bulus. Click to continue reading...

Next months sees Indonesia host an Independence Cup competition and they really have whetted the football fans' appetite.

England are coming as are Brazil and Saudi Arabia to do battle with Benny Dollo's men. Ticket prices and match details have yet to be arranged but some domestic games will have to be rearranged. Click to continue reading...

Along with Perak in Malaysia and Persitara here in Indonesia it has now been revealed double winners Sriwijaya are feeling the pinch and not paid their players for two months.

Having an Indonesian Super League is all very commendable but professionalism isn't just an empty phrase. It needs to encompass club management and it needs professionals to run the game. Click to continue reading...

As I was watching the AFF Under 16s recently in Jakarta I was struck by the sheer size of the Indonesian players when they lined up against their opponents. Even the Singapore and Malaysian players towered above, and outwards, the locals.

What about diet? I may live here but Indonesian food is in the main awful. Click to continue reading...

Today sees the final day of the ASEAN Under 16s that have been held in Jakarta over the last week or so. They have been a lot of fun with some quality football produced by the kids.

No surprise really that the final features Australia and Bahrain but only seconds came between Malaysia and the Aussies. Click to continue reading...