Churchill to play in AFC Champions League play-off

I-League champions Churchill Brothers was on Thursday included among seven Asian clubs who will feature in play-off matches for a berth in the prestigious AFC Champions League 2010.

Churchill were, however, placed in a tough West Asian group along with AFC Cup runners-up Al Karamah of Syria and Al Wahda of United Arab Emirates for a spot in the AFC Champions League, Asia's top-flight club competition which will have 32 teams in the 2010 edition.

The East Asian berth for the ACL will be fought among four teams - Singapore Armed Services, Vietnam's Da Nang, Indonesia's Sriwijaya and Thailand's Muangthong United.

There is no room in the play-offs for AFC Cup winners Kuwait SC, who failed to fulfill the criteria set by AFC to compete in the tournament. The draws for the play-offs will be announced later.

Last month, AFC had shortlisted eight continental teams for the play-offs on condition that they fulfill professional criteria set by the continental body.

The criteria include clubs being registered as commercial entities, having a minimum number of players under professional contracts, encouraging youth development and the use of a home stadium with a minimum capacity of 3,000 seats.

Last year, another Goan side, Dempo Sports Club featured in the play-offs but lost 0-3 to UAE's Al Sharjah to miss the bus for ACL.