No Days Off: How Asia’s stars are putting in the work from home

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

No Days Off: How Asia’s stars are putting in the work from home

Kuala Lumpur: With nearly all of the football world at a coronavirus-induced standstill, pro footballers are being forced to draw on their reserves of discipline – and, in some cases, creativity – to stay in shape.

Core training, improvised backyard circuits and the increasingly popular #StayAtHome juggling challenge are making sure the stars of the show will be ready to shine once more when football makes its eagerly awaited return.

Fill up your protein shaker and join the-AFC,com as we examine how, in ways we couldn’t have expected, football’s coming home.

5 of the Best: Acrobatic Goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

5 of the Best: Acrobatic Goals

Kuala Lumpur: Goals, goals and more goals from the AFC Cup as this week the-AFC.com looks back on five fantastic efforts by some big-name stars from Syria to Singapore.

After featuring fabulous free-kicks, long-range stunners and individual brilliance, this week's edition takes in one of our most popular categories: acrobatic goals. Athletic, exciting and often jaw-dropping, enjoy these magnificent efforts and then select your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.

The future: Central Asia teenagers on the verge of stardom

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

The future: Central Asia teenagers on the verge of stardom

Bishkek: While world football awaits its full-scale return, it’s worth remembering the bright future that beckons many of Asia’s talented young players.

Central Asia is a region with a proud footballing past, and the extended outlook appears equally bright with several talented youngsters emerging in recent years.

Join the the-AFC.com as we profile seven youngsters from Asian football’s Central Zone who look poised for long and successful careers in the game.

The Story Behind: Club Nicknames 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

The Story Behind: Club Nicknames 

Kuala Lumpur: With much of the Continental game on hiatus due to the current Covid-19 outbreak, the-AFC.com introduces a new weekly series, The Story Behind, where we delve deeper to reveal some of Asian football's fascinating flavour.

For the first edition, we look at six different clubs from across the breadth of the Asian Football Confederation and explore the meaning behind their unique team nicknames.

The Asian Football Quiz

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

The Asian Football Quiz

Kuala Lumpur: Think you know everything about the Asian game from Jordan to Japan and from Beirut to Brisbane? Take on our new Asian Football Quiz!

Marañón: This achievement is an honour 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Marañón: This achievement is an honour 

Manila: Having netted the 34th and 35th goals of his AFC Cup career in the Matchday Three win over Indonesia's Bali United, Ceres Negros striker Bienvenido Marañón expressed his joy at becoming the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer.

It may not have been his most stunning goal, but Marañón's close-range header to put Ceres Negros 3-0 up over Bali United last week proved to be a milestone strike.

It took the Spaniard past Jordanian Mahmoud Shelbaieh's record which has stood since February 2015. The-AFC.com caught up exclusively with the Ceres No 7 to reflect on his achievement.

Japan's Honda scores in Botafogo debut

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Japan's Honda scores in Botafogo debut

Rio de Janeiro: Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda scored in his debut for Brazilian club Botafogo on Sunday, a 1-1 draw against Bangu played in an empty stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Honda, 33, got a hero's welcome from thousands of fans when he arrived in Brazil on February 7, but played his first match in the eery quiet of Botafogo's deserted stadium.

He was photographed training ahead of the Rio Cup tie with a mask on.

It may be his last match for some time: the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has suspended the season until further notice because of the pandemic, effective Monday.