KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -Asia needs to cultivate European-style professional clubs that can help develop strong players for national teams if any country in this region hopes to lift the World Cup someday, Japan's soccer chief said Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, we are still not close to the top level in the world yet," said Japan Football Association's president, Saburo Kawabuchi, in a speech at the Asian Football Confederation's congress in Malaysia.
Kawabuchi, who heads the AFC's Professional League Committee, noted in the 2006 World Cup, "not a single Asian team advanced from the group stage, that is excluding Australia," which only officially joined the AFC last year.
"We need to drastically develop the clubs, which will in turn directly affect the development of the national teams in order to make a breakthrough in the situation," said Kawabuchi, who has been credited for overseeing the J-League's transformation from semi-amateur status to its current professional shape.
Creating attractive regional competitions that all strong clubs will join is a crucial step "if a national team of Asia is to win the FIFA World Cup," Kawabuchi said.
Asian officials are planning an "adventurous reformatting" of the AFC Champions League to make matches more entertaining, secure better finances and boost technical conditions, he added.
"The new reformed AFC Champions League, starting 2009, will have popularity, power, the best teams, best conditions and high prize money," Kawabuchi said.
AFC officials also want a professional league to be established in all member associations, Kawabuchi said, adding countries that have such leagues should strive to improve them.
AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said Asian soccer authorities must also boost the sport by guarding against problems such as government interference, as well as internal issues such as doping, match-fixing and fielding over-aged players in youth competitions.
"There are signs that the values of our game are being threatened by people in our own midst," Hamman said, without identifying any country. "Unfortunately, some of us have tried to twist the rules and regulations of football for short-term glory and success."
