AFC President’s Cup is a football tournament that would be participated by national champion clubs of eight Asian nations that falls under category C of AFC’s classification. What eludes the clubs most is the prize money – US$ 50,000 for the winner and US $ 25,000 for the runners-up. The tournament originally planned in Nepal was nearly lost due to security and flood-light problems but a team of AFC after inspection okayed Nepal as the venue and Nepali football fans are eagerly awaiting for the event.
Nepal’s Three Star Club will be our representative and club-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha is leaving no spaces for the preparation. Three Star wants the title and the money – and have signed four players from other clubs and brought in two Nigerians and training two times a day. Aman Adhikary, player-turned-sports journalist-turned-coach said they were doing hard works when I met him yesterday.
ANFA, under Ganesh Thapa who is also the chairman of the organizing committee is preparing hard for the successful organization. The only stadium, the Darsrath Rangashala is being renovated. The ground in it is being made level and green – works are going on for almost two months now. Construction of media center and players’ room is planned.
Prince Paras yesterday visited the stadium to see the preparation for the event.
Eight teams for the Amy 4-14 event are Group A: Three Star Club (Nepal), Transport United (Bhutan), Regar-TadAz (Tajikistan) and Tai Power Company (Chinese Taipei ) ang Group B: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) – Pakistan, Blue Star SC (Sri Lanka), Dordoi Dynamo (Kyrgyzstan) and Hello United (Cambodia)
I am excited and hope that Three Star will win the title. I also hope that with the event, Nepal can spread the message that the country is safe venue. After relcoation of U-15 Asia Cup cricket, I don’t want to see U-19 Asia Cup not happening in the country for security reasons.
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