sparkgame

That's the confusing part. This is actually a League Cup, if I'm not wrong. The big official league starts next year 2010 January, which works like Major League Soccer of US. Teams play each other 4 times, and the top 2 of each Upper and Lower Myanmar divisions would play Semis and Final, the Champion is chosen the same way US sports do.

This League Cup that just finished, however, teams played each other only once. So 8 teams, each team play 7 games. Top 2 plays final. The tournament lasted for about a month.

It's like a warm-up tournament to test teams.

So now is transfer time, and changing and improving for each team.

I've heard some unofficial news that such a tournament will be played again in October, also for about a month.

After that, I think they go to a final transfer period, before launching the league officially next year.

But I dunno why English official medias, and even Burmese medias are taking it as if it's the official main league. But no, it's not. Burmese media have to take it seriously, so fans would come, and it worked. If not some fans might be "uh...only league cup..."

sparkgame

Yea.. crowd better than sleague?

people from all walks of life attended... students, girls (near-end of part 1), workers, professionals, old, young, poor, rich. Not just for final, even other major games.

Money wise, not to worry. The league doesn't reflect the country's economy as they are private clubs ran by business men and MFF which was released from government control, at least to some degree. The business men are not world billionaire tycoons, but they and MFF can at least make the league look standard and presentable. Not amateur anyhow-league anymore. However, they need to work on giving higher salaries to local players.

The league has also become an official league that garnered attention from foreign players, as diverse as Australians and Portuguese, plus regional Thais. Not just limited to Africans (too many of them in Asean leagues btw). So not just Nike balls, I think even standard kits would be sponsored soon. Also teams like Yadanarbon, Yangon, and Kanbawza are professionally established, standard, with links, money, standard websites.. etc. Football wise, is not bad too.

But there are smaller clubs that uses youth players and need more development.

Crowd wise, I've heard that it exceeds expectations.

sparkgame

Tickets are cheap. Affordable by many in Myanmar, unless u r seriously really poor. That also means, if exchange into US$, it's like cents... for 1 ticket. So teams are not earning much in US$ terms. Therefore, they could only concentrate on foreign players' salaries...

sparkgame

1000 Kyats is US$1. I dunno the ticket prices and earnings.

sparkgame

Here's why the league and Myanmar being poor is not totally related..

Big News from Yangon United.

http://www.soccermyanmar.com/index.p...851&Itemid=104

Yangon United owner U Tay Za revealed at a press conference that Yangon is looking to spend money in this transfer period. Yangon is working on hiring a foreign coach, who is a former West Ham player and a Manchester United coaching staff, to help current head coach Myo Hlaing Win.

The owner also revealed that Yangon is working with 3 agents to hire players from Italy, Argentina and Cameroon. 2 players from Cameroon have already started negotiating deals. One of them is a former Cameroon national team player and another is a young Cameroon Olympic team player who played in Beijing Olympic team with Cameroon. Names for all targets and signings will be revealed in future.

He said that Yangon United had spent US$ 5million in total preparations for the recently finished MNL Cup, which includes players' sign on fees, salaries, facilities, among others. Yangon is also going to upgrade the Aung San stadium, which is their home stadium.

sparkgame

Judging from recent MNL and current development, I think they won't be hired..

sparkgame

The 1st goal and the 3rd are nice.

sparkgame

Yangon United Football Club - The Offical Website | Professional Football Club in Myanmar.

Yangon Utd is affiliated with Thai club BEC Tero Sasana.

sparkgame

Happened last year.

Brazilian AME plays second fund-raising soccer match in Myanmar. ...

English_Xinhua 2008-10-28 2145


Brazilian AME plays second fund-raising soccer match in Myanmar_English_Xinhua

sparkgame

Nakata visits Myanmar and played a match.

hide-hidetoshi-nakata: more news

Myanmar Times & Business Reviews

Nakata visited Myanmar by his own will for a 1-week vacation. Unfortunately, he met MFF president on the plane, and the latter invited him for an exhibition game in Myanmar.

Nakata thrills at Thuwunna
By Shwe Yinn Mar Oo

Japanese football star Hidetoshi Nakata greets members of the press following a fundraising match at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, June 7.
Pic: Hein Latt Aung

Nakata played 45-minute halves for both sides, which comprised former national football players, current coach Brazilian Marcos Falopa and senior Myanmar Football Federation officials who had invited the 30-year-old to Myanmar.

“It’s a pleasure to see such an enthusiastic crowd in Myanmar. This country, with such a crowd, should be very successful in football,” Nakata said in a short press conference after the match.

Asked how Myanmar footballers rated against their Asian rivals, the former Japanese playmaker said, “In terms of skill, power and endurance, Myanmar footballers are quite good. But in the team form, they lack understanding.”

He urged players to keep practising, saying “they also need more accuracy”.
MFF technical director U Soe Myint Lwin said Myanmar could learn much from Nakata, whose probing passes and pin-up looks made him a star both on and off the pitch.

“He played a simple game, which means knowing when to pass and when to hold the ball. But Myanmar footballers always try to show off their skills. That leads to delays in decision making during a match,” U Soe Myint Lwin said. ....