Maziya and New Radiant in group stage of AFC Cup

Dec 06, 2012 - 08:16:33 | Hussain Sinan

VB playing in the AFC Cup this year. Maldives got two group stage spots next year (MSPhoto: Hussain Sinan)

Male’, MALDIVES – Maziya Sports and Recreation Club are included in the group stage without playing a play-off after one of the teams did not take part in the tournament. The only playoff match will be played between Tajikistan’s Regar and Syria’s Al Wahda on February 16th.

Speaking to maldivesoccer.com Football Association of Maldives president Ali Azim said that Maldives has got one automatic group stage spot and one playoff spot. However, with one team dropping out of the tournament, Maziya was included in the draw which was held this morning in AFC House.

“The club who was supposed to play against Maziya did not take part in the tournament. So Maziya was included in the group stage of the tournament”

New Radiant, the champions of Dhiraagu Dhivehi League will have to play against Yangon United (Myanmar), Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei (Hong Kong) and Persibo (Indonesia). Yangon won the 2012 MNL League with just a point difference from the second spot. Yangon United played in last year’s AFC Cup and ended the group stage campaign with just a single point. Sun Hei of Hongkong finished 4th in their league table. They got an AFC Cup spot after they lifted the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield. Persibo Bojonegoro won the 2012 Piala Indonesia tournament.

Maziya will play against Kelantan (Malaysia), Ayewady (Myanmar) and SHB Da Nang (Vietnam). Kelantan won the Malaysian League with 60 points. They were also the 2012 Malaysian FA Cup winners. Ayeyawady United won the 2012 MFF Cup in Myanmar. Da Nang won the 2012 Vietnamese League.

The first round of matches will be played in 5 – 6th March 2013.

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Imma on Dec 06

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If New Radiant take the competition seriously, they can make it into the next round. Sun Hei are a good club, but a fan told me that they are in really poor form right now, and think New Radiant can beat them. Maziya, on the other hand, are in a very tough group. Kelantan are a very strong, very well-run club that has a huge fanbase in Malaysia. Also, Ayewady are an up-and-coming club that are strong at home, and Da Nang are very experienced at this level. It might be tough for Maziya who are making their debut, but if they get some wins at home, who knows what will happen?

ande on Dec 07

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get ready to humiliate us maldivian teams :)