Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2:

The upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup Football Tournament to be held here from Wednesday will be inaugurated by Crown Prince Paras.

Five out of seven visiting teams have already arrived in the capital and the rest two are expected to arrive by tomorrow, informed the All Nepal Football Association officials at a press meet today.

Satisfied with the preparations, AFC-team general coordinator Indran Rasasingham said that everything was going according to the plan. “ANFA is working hard to make the event a grand success,” he said.

Breifing on the security arrangements, AIGP Amar Singh Shah said that the arrangements were done as per the AFC instructions. “No one can take prohibited items inside the stadium as every single spectator has to go through security checks,” he said. The pohibited items include firearms, blades and pointed instruments, chemical, drugs, poison, firecrackers, lighters etc. He also informed that the spectators would not be allowed to carry drums and mineral water bottles.

Volunteers from ANFA, Royal Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Local Administration, National Investigation Department, National Sports Council and Fire Brigade will be working towards the successful running of the tournament.

“Since it is a prestigious tournament, we hope to get support from all quarters, especially the spectators,” said ANFA president Ganesh Thapa. He also said, “In case of spectators misbehaving during the matches, the association will be penalised heavily.”

The 10-day tournament feat-ures eight teams — Transport United (Bhutan), Regar TadAZg (Tajikistan), Taiwan Power Company (Chinese Taipei), Dordoi Dynamo (Kyrgyztan), Blue Star Sports Club (Sri Lanka), Wapda (Pakistan), Hello United (Cambodia) and Three Star Club (Nepal), all national league winners in their respective nations.

Three Star Club is in Pool A along with Transport United, Regar TadAZg and Taiwan Power Company whereas Dordoi Dynamo, Blue Star Sports Club, Wapda and Hello United are in Pool B. As per the fixtures, Three Star Club will take on Taiwan Power Company in the inaugural match at Dasharath Stadium and the other match between Regar Tadaz and Transport United will take place simultaneously at Armed Police Force football ground in Halchowk.

The prize money for the winners is $50,000 and $25,000 for the runners-up.