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| The AFF Championship badly need a recalibration |
The AFF Championship has definitely lost its gloss as the region's premier marquee tournament.
Unlike in the early days, the build-up to this supposedly flagship competition has failed to reach a fever pitch.
Is it due to fan fatigue after 39 days of intense World Cup action, or the awkward timing to stage a regional tournament during a "pre-season" period?
Seeing players recalled by their clubs midway during the last tournament was comical. Yet, these clubs were within their rights to do so, given that the competition fell outside the official FIFA calendar.
With the new FIFA ASEAN Cup coming into the picture soon, the role of the AFF Championship urgently needs a recalibration if it wishes to stay relevant.
The organisers must look in the mirror and reflect as these structural shortcomings become increasingly obvious.
It would be a great shame to see a tournament with such rich history gradually fade into obscurity.
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