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| Top players from South East Asia could find themselves in the strongest Asian leagues thanks to the ACL's 3+1 rule. (AFP) |
“I think this is a great rule,” the Englishman told www.the-afc.com.
“Already a number of big Asian nation clubs have made enquiries about many of the Thai national team players.
“It’s a rule that must benefit South East Asia especially if one of the players makes it big in a place like Australia or Japan.”
With the AFC Champions League group stage approaching the halfway point a number of players who have made the move to another Asian club have already impressed on the continental stage.
And while the current trend is clearly for players to move between more established leagues the 3+1 rule could, in the future, see savvy coaches and managers delving into the untapped talent pool of South East Asia; a region that has produced more than its share of gifted individuals who have never really had the chance to test themselves at the highest level of club football in the continent.
Having also successfully led teams in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, few know ASEAN football better than Darby.
And the former Home United and Perak coach is adamant that the 3+1 rule has the potential to make a hugely positive impact on football in the region…given the plethora of highly talented ‘potential plus ones’ he has seen over the years.
“I have no doubt the likes of Le Cong Vinh, Bambang Pamungkas or Suree Sukha could handle any Asian league and more importantly handle the off field side of the game. That’s what is so culturally important.
“South East Asian players have to be tougher off the field, get over this obsession about local food and work hard to reap the potential football and economic benefits. Who cares if you can’t get nasi lemak in Tokyo?!”
While ASEAN players often shuttle between clubs in South East Asia few have made the move outside of the region and this is not necessarily because of a dearth of talent.
When asked if he had encountered any player that could have played in one of the ‘bigger’ Asian league such as Japan, Korea or Australia, Darby, who guided Singapore’s Home United and Malaysia’s Perak to the quarter-finals of the 2004 and 2008 AFC Cups respectively, had no trouble reeling off a list of candidates.
“I’ve seen some great players in ASEAN over my period of time.
“The Thais could have had Kiatisuk (Senamuang), Dusit (Chalermsan), Sutee (Suksomkit) and Surachai (Juturapattarapong) while from Malaysia there is Indra Putra, Ahmad Sharul and Khalid Jamlus.
“Indonesia, of course, has Bambang and Singapore had great players such as Fahndi Ahmad, V. Sundramoorthy and now Indra Shadan, who can score goals at any level…plus big Lionel Lewis can stop them at all levels.
“The Vietnamese have Le Cong Vinh, Thach Bao Khanh, Le Huynh Duc and probably the best South East Asian player I have seen Hong Son, the Army midfield genius. He attracted interest from Juventus in Italy…a world class player.”
- Nick McCormack
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