League of Asean clubs and nations in pipeline

SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters) - A regional soccer league featuring clubs and countries from the Asean nations could soon become a reality.

Asean Football Federation honorary secretary Paul Mony has confirmed that the project -- first mooted seven years ago -- was being reconsidered.

"The discussions are at an exploratory stage," he told Singapore's Today tabloid.

"The feasibility of such a league is still being worked out and factors like cost are being studied."

The AFF organised the recent Asean soccer championships and has 11 South-east Asia affiliates - Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei and East Timor.

A regional league could include club sides from the region's leading nations and national teams from the minnows.

Cambodia's national coach, Australian Scott O'Donnell, is in favour of such a league.

"Clearly some countries in the region do not play enough matches.

"We need to play more matches at the top level and this is the only way we can improve," he told Today.

Updated on Tuesday, Feb 6, 2007 8:11 pm EST