by Matt Riley
14th May, 2014
Looking back at AFC Cup records, the evidence doesn't suggest Thai teams sated with success and desperate to explore the heady horizons of the AFC Champions League. In 2007 Osotspa made the group stages, Chonburi got to the quarter finals in 2009 and 2011 before the semi finals in 2012, whilst Muang Thong United reached the semi finals then quarter finals 2010 and 11. This year there were no Thai AFC Cup teams. Admittedly considered the Europa League of South East Asia, it does give clubs increased profile, the chance of silverware and ranking points. However, with precisely zero AFC wins and no final appearances, the Thai urge to run has been undermined by an inability to walk.
With three Thai clubs in the AFC Champions League this season, hopes were high of making a big impression. Last season Buriram Utd, following a tight quarter final that appeared theirs to win going into the second half of the second leg against Esteghlal, this season was a sobering experience. Targeting a top five AFC rank, the Thunder Castle failed to reach the ACL last sixteen. Although starting with a strong away draw at Shandong Luneng, the five home points dropped against Pohang Steelers and Cerezo Osaka proved fatal, leaving them two points shy of qualification.
Despite SCG Muang Thong defeating a weak Hanoi T&T in the first qualification round and Chonburi overcoming South China, Muang Thong were edged out by Melbourne Victory and Chonburi soundly thrashed by Beijing Guoan. Thai teams fell between two stools of failing in the showpiece tournament and missing out on ranking points in less glamorous surroundings.
This arrogance may well come back to haunt Thai football. The loss of ranking points in a system which targets stadia, marketing, transport links and attendances may seem unlikely with the huge growth in Thai football, but the shiny new teams still have to perform on the Asian stage. If Worawi Makudi cannot weave his magic at AFC Towers, Thai clubs will have less evidence for three slots. Australia's three saw Western City Wanderers in the round of sixteen, Central Coast Mariners make it through to the group stages and Melbourne Victory missing out on the last sixteen by a single goal in an extremely strong group.
Thai teams are getting stronger; the surprises in the Thai Premier League show that. But the harsh reality is that development takes time. Thai clubs should have at least three AFC Cup titles before taking on the Big Boys. They are now very small fish in a Champions League ocean, but feel they are big fish in the AFC Cup pond. With no silverware to back up that boast, it only breeds resentment from "lesser" leagues with more international success. One automatic Champions League place for the TPL champions and two group stage AFC slots is the right level at this point, but who has the nerve to tell The Emperor he has no clothes?
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