Melbourne City will cross paths with a well-known foe – former Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas – on this season’s AFC Champions League.
City’s Group H opponents embody the Thai outfit Buriram United, the place Papas – who parted methods with the Jets in June – is now employed as a technical director.
Papas can also be Buriram’s caretaker coach following the departure of Japan’s Masatada Ishii, who led the membership to successive Thai trebles earlier than leaving to change into technical director of the Thailand nationwide crew.
“They’re going to be full of confidence under Arthur,” Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic mentioned.
“That’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
City’s different group opponents are Chinese outfit Zhejiang FC, and Japan’s Ventforet Kofu, who’re the one second-tier crew within the Champions League.
Ventforet Kofu certified for the competitors by profitable Japan’s Emperors Cup final 12 months,
City, final season’s winners of the A-League’s Premier’s Plate, is ready to open its marketing campaign in opposition to the Japanese membership on September 20 at AAMI Park.
While City is the one A-League membership on this season’s Champions League, two Australian groups – Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur FC – will compete within the AFC Cup
Macarthur – who certified through their Australia Cup triumph final 12 months – is in Group F with Dynamic Herb Cebu (Philippines), Shan United (Myanmar) and Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia).
Macarthur coach and former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski mentioned: “Competing in Asia is a major milestone for our club and we are proud to represent south west Sydney on the continental stage.
“We know it won’t be easy to travel away with difficult climates and long trips. Some of the teams have experience in the AFC Cup but we are very much looking forward to the challenge and confident in the ability of the team to progress to the knockout stages.”
The Mariners, whose second-place end on final season’s A-League ladder earnt them AFC Cup qualification, are in Group G with Terengganu (Malaysia), Bali United (Indonesia) and Stallion Laguna (Philippines).
Originally revealed as Melbourne City’s AFC Champions League marketing campaign features a date with Arthur Papas’ Buriram United
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
