KUALA LUMPUR – Super League heavyweights Selangor are confident of ending their seven-year absence from continental competition as the Red Giants aim to qualify for the newly branded AFC Champions League 2 for the 2024/2025 season.
The last time Selangor played in Asian competition was in the 2016 AFC Cup, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. They are eager to make a comeback.
Speaking to Scoop, Selangor head coach Tan Cheng Hoe expressed the club’s determination to make their continental return, saying: “We have been working tirelessly to strengthen our squad and improve our performances.
“Our players have shown immense dedication and drive to achieve success and bring Selangor back to the Asian stage.”
As the AFC Champions League 2 is meant to replace the existing second-tier AFC Cup by providing US$8 million (approximately RM37.74 million) for the champions and US$4 million for the runners-up, Cheng Hoe further iterated on the benefits and appeal that this tournament can bring for the club and the players.
“Participating in this tournament will benefit us as a team to attract some of the top foreign talents to our team, but we need to remember that this process will not happen overnight.
“We need to consistently work hard for it and always stay consistent by showing our capabilities by qualifying for next season’s AFC Cup and using it as a stepping stone for success.
“As a club, we have the goal of winning this competition by the year 2027, and with the increased prize money, the team is pumped up and motivated to give it our all to win the competition within the given time frame.
“The enhanced prize money offers additional motivation for us to perform well and aim for success. It provides financial support and resources to bolster the club’s vision and objectives. This incentive further reinforces our determination to secure qualification and compete at the highest level.
“Participating in this tournament would not only elevate the reputation of the club, but also provide our players with a chance to showcase their abilities against some of the top teams in Asia. It is a test of the players’ skills, and we are ready to prove ourselves,” said Cheng Hoe, who formerly coached the Malaysian men’s national team from 2018 to 2022.
Qualifying no easy task for Red Giants
However, Selangor’s journey to qualify for the new tournament looks to be shaping up as no easy task – with Kedah hot on their heels in the Super League, trailing the Red Giants by only five points.
The Canaries also have the experience of playing in the semi-finals of the AFC Cup, narrowly losing 2-1 against Indonesia’s Makassar FC last season.
The AFC, Asian football’s governing body, has recently announced the introduction of three new tournaments for the 2024/25 season, offering increased prize money to participating teams and elevating the competition to new levels.
The three tournaments, namely the AFC Champions League Elite, or ACLE, the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL 2), and the AFC Challenge Cup (ACGL), will involve a total of 76 teams vying for continental glory.
The ACLE will be the premier tournament, showcasing 24 elite clubs from across the continent. These clubs will be split into western and eastern zones and compete in a league format.
Each club will face eight different teams in four home and away matches. Following the league stage, the top eight teams will advance to the last 16, engaging in knockout matches on a home and away basis.
The winners of the round of 16 will progress to the quarter-finals, then the semi-finals, culminating in a thrilling final at a neutral venue.
The second tier tournament, the ACL 2, will feature 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. In the group stage, each team will compete in a round-robin home and away format.
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the round of 16. The knockout stage will consist of two-legged ties leading up to the finals, which will be played in a single match.
Replacing the AFC Cup, the ACGL will be a third tier tournament consisting of 20 clubs. These clubs will be divided into five groups, with all matches happening at centralised venues.
The top eight clubs from the group stage will qualify for the quarter-finals. Similar to the ACL 2, the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played in a home-and-away format, while the final will be a captivating single-match event.
The introduction of these new tournaments brings a significant increase in prize money, igniting further interest and competitiveness among participating teams.
The ACLE champion will be awarded a lucrative prize of US$12 million, with the runner-up receiving US$6 million. – September 7, 2023