For the first time in the 8 year history of the Indochina Cup, an All-Nationals team will play in an exhibition match. The Indochina Cup will be played in Thailand on 16 August. (Click photo to see AFL Asia’s promo video.)
The Thailand Tigers President, Brendan “Blade” Cunningham has confirmed that an All Nationals team will play a combined foreigners team in an exhibition match during the 8th Annual Indochina Cup to be held in Thailand on 16 August.
The Annual Indochina Cup is a round robin tournament played between the Thailand Tigers, Vietnam Swans, Lao Elephants, Cambodian Eagles and making their debut this year, the Myanmar Fighting Cocks.
Blade says that “The Indigenous All Stars match will combine the local players from each of the participating countries and will play against a combined foreigners team.
“The guy who initiated the idea – Rut – is also keen to take the reins and organize it. He’s already contacted players from Laos and Cambodia as he knows them well from previous meetings, and is keen to recruit players from Vietnam and Myanmar.
“For the foreigners’ team, it will be made up of players who ‘want’ to play in the game rather than in the Indochina Cup.
“Rut’s aim is to encourage more local players to become part of the great sport, so hopefully by putting a bit of emphasis on this game – which will complement the Indochina Cup – we can get some more people in each country interested.
“As a side note just, what do you think of our chances in putting a combined Indochina Team in the International Cup? Obviously not this year, but in future years. Do the rules allow for this?”
Footnote: AFL Asia’s Mark Stennett who no wlives in Melbourne put this question to the AFL’s peter Romaniw during the week. Pete replied that, “I wouldn’t foresee that would be an issue with this and it’d be a good addition to the event, particularly given the infancy of these countries in terms of AFL development.”
