Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 8:

The second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Mayos Under 14 football festival is beginning here at Dasharath Stadium from Friday with Uzbekistan playing against Turkemenistan.

All Nepal Football Association is organising the week-long festival under the sponsorship of Himalayan Snacks and Noodles Pvt Ltd for the second straight year upon the request from AFC. Nepal had won the title in the first edition of the festival last year.

Six countries in Group C of the Asian festival -- Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal is drawn in Group C of the Asian festival along with Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for the week-long festival. According to the organisers, ANFA, the tournament will be held on round robin basis, and the team with maximum points will be the winner.

According to ANFA, the objective behind organising this event is to motivate young players and let them gain international experiences at an early age.

The organisers have estimated a budget of Rs 6,00,000 and have planned to meet the expenses through AFC-allocated fund, local sponsors and gate collections.

Boys from across the country were kept in a training camp for three months under Sunil Shrestha. The 20 member team was selected as per their performance during training.