KUALA LUMPUR - Hong Kong trailblazer Chan Yuen-ting, the first woman coach to win a top-flight men’s football title, faces a brutal AFC Champions League initiation after her Eastern SC was bracketed Tuesday with Chinese giant Guangzhou Evergrande.
Chan will face off in Group G against World Cup-winning Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his Guangzhou side, which will be gunning for its third Champions League title in five years.
It is joined in the group by Suwon Samsung Bluewings of South Korea and a yet-to-be determined Japanese club.
In her debut season, Chan, 28, led Eastern Sports Club to Hong Kong’s Premier League title in April for the first time in 21 years.
That earned her a Guinness World Record as the first woman coach to win a men’s championship title in a top national football league.
In a tough Group H, defending Champions League winner Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors was drawn with A-League champion Adelaide United and Jiangsu FC of China, according to the group-stage draw announced at AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
UAE powerhouse Al-Ain, last year’s runner-up, will begin its campaign from Group C alongside formidable foes Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Iran’s Zobahan FC, and the winner of a play-off between Qatar’s El Jaish SC and FC Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan, the AFC said.
The group stage runs from February to May, followed by the knockout phase, with the final set for November of next year.
Group A: Al-Ahli (UAE), PFC Lokomotiv (UZB), Al Taawoun (KSA), Playoff winner.
Group B: Esteghlal Khouzestan FC (IRN), Al Jazira (UAE), Lekhwiya SC (QAT), Playoff winner.
Group C: Al-Ahli (KSA), Zobahan FC (IRN), Al-Ain FC (UAE), Playoff winner.
Group D: Al-Rayyan SC (QAT), Al-Hilal SFC (KSA), Persepolis FC (IRN), Playoff winner.
Group E: Kashima Antlers (JPN), Muangthong United (THA), Playoff winner, Playoff winner.
Group F: FC Seoul (KOR), Japan 2nd Club (JPN), Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS), Playoff winner.
Group G: Guangzhou Evergrande FC (CHN), Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR), still-undetermined Japan Club, Eastern SC (HKG).
Group H: Adelaide United (AUS), Jiangsu FC (CHN), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR), Playoff winner.
