But expectations for Malaysian representatives Kedah and Johor FC to excel in the tournament are low, no thanks to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
FAM’s ‘no import’ ruling for 2009 has effectively placed the two Super League teams on an uneven playing ground.
But 2007 and 2008 Malaysian treble champions Kedah refuse to be disheartened by the handicap.
The Canaries have pledged to give their all in the regional tournament, and want to repeat last year’s feat of progressing past the group stage.
Kedah are in Group G with Vietnam champions Hanoi ACB, Chonburi FC of Thailand and Hong Kong’s Eastern Athletic.
The Malaysians open their campaign with an away match at Hanoi ACB tomorrow,
“The FAM ruling is a major blow to us as all our AFC Cup opponents will field import players. But Kedah will not hide behind this problem.
“Our target to secure a top-two finish in the group and qualify to the knockout phase remains. We will not take the competition lightly,” said Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor prior to the team’s departure to Hanoi yesterday.
Kedah will have an almost full strength side in Vietnam. The only notable absentee is former Penang striker Mohd Farizal Rozali, who is still nursing a fractured ankle.
In Farizal’s absence, Kedah are expected to start with Mohd Khyril Muhymeen and Azrul Ahmad upfront.
Azraai rates Chonburi as the group favourites. The 2008 Thai Premier League runners-up played in the Asian Champions League last year.
“It will be difficult to upstage Chonburi, who have several Thai internationals and quality imports in their side,” said Azraai.
“But I rate Kedah to be on par with Hanoi and Eastern Athletic. It is important for us to collect points in matches against these two sides, beginning with Tuesday’s game in Hanoi.”
Hanoi ACB are powered by three Africans — midfielders Hassan Sesay (Sierra Leone) and Joseph Ngake (South Africa) and striker Charles Livingstone (Uganda).
Chonburi have in their ranks Japanese defender Yoshiaki Maruyama, Ivory Coast midfielder Kone Mohamad and Brazilians Douglas and Anderson.
Eastern Athletic possess Brazilian trio Machadi, Fabiano and Picoli and Africans Julius Akosah (Cameroon) and Alexander Akande (Nigeria).
Each team are allowed to field a maximum of three foreign players in an AFC Cup match.
Last year, Kedah made it to the quarter-finals before going down 1-7 on aggregate to eventual champions Muharraq of Bahrain.
Malaysia’s second representative in the competition, Johor FC, have PSMS Medan (Indonesia), South China (Hong Kong) and VB Sports Club (Maldives) for company in the relatively easier Group F.
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