As China’s third-biggest city, it takes something special to grab Guangzhou’s attention. Saturday night’s battle for AFC Champions League glory has failed to hold many of the 13 million inhabitants of this vast industrial hub, detailed by the contrast between hyper-modern skyscrapers and swathes of starkly-designed Communist flats.
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This is the setting Al Ahli will have to conquer if they are to make history with a first success in the continent’s premier club competition. An incredible path has been walked by them to get this far, rising from an awful 2014-15 season domestically to finally progress past the group stages at the sixth attempt.
Opponents Guangzhou Evergrande’s 58,500-capacity Tianhe Stadium has officially sold out, for a tie delicately poised at 0-0 from November 7’s first leg in Dubai.
An army of touts began surrounding the venue earlier in the week, offering tickets marked up to 5,000 yuan (Dh2,877) to a home crowd which expects a second coronation as Asia’s champion side.
A small-but-vocal travelling contingent cheered on Ahli at training on Friday night, coach Cosmin Olaroiu impressing with skilful flicks not usually expected of a former centre-back, during the 15 minutes open to media. The club estimates about 750 fans have made the 6,000-kilometre trip east, hoping for a legendary night.
Yet as of Friday, when driving around Guangzhou you would not be aware a top-class football match is to take place.
UEFA deck entire host cities in their livery and run marquee events in the build-up to the Champions League final in Europe, even taking over ones the size of London.
There are no similar posters or billboards here, not even along the heaving Tianhe Road which leads to the 540,000 square-metre Tianhe Sports Center.
This is in stark contrast to an adjacent event hosting pop-up shopping stalls, vivid reflective purple adverts catching the eye and bringing in punters.
#AlAhliUAE boss Olaroiu with the #ACL2015 trophy for company. Could be his for keeps tomorrow in Guangzhou @Sport360 pic.twitter.com/Hizke65MF4
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) November 20, 2015
Occasions like these should be about much more than simply filling the stadium.
There is plenty of interest in football in Guangzhou, red shirts being spotted walking around the lively business and commercial district surrounding the ground.
The 28-year-old Tianhe Stadium has seen better days but possesses character, its small plastic chairs still bright orange despite their esteemed tenants donning red.
A disservice has been done to both sides, who have rightly emerged as the strongest competitors in West and East Asia.
The 2015 ACL final will feature outstanding local players, expertly-recruited foreigners plus a 2002-World Cup winning coach in Guangzhou’s Luiz Felipe Scolari and opposite number Cosmin Olaroiu, who is the doyen of Middle East-based bosses.
Both the China and UAE teams possess an ever-increasing depth of talent, Ahli defensive midfielder Majed Hassan and heavily-tattooed Guangzhou right-back Zhang Linpeng deserve to be championed.
The foreign stars are also of a high standard. Brazil centre midfielder Paulinho has been rejuvenated in China after a move to Tottenham Hotspur turned sour, while opposing attackers Lima and Everton Ribeiro are exceptional.
A shocking scramble for tickets only made available on match day at Rashid Stadium spoiled the opener for many supporters.
The process of getting people into the ground has been smoother this time, yet the lack of effective marketing is obvious. Asian football has much to be proud about. It is time this positive message was correctly promoted by its administrators.
