Kathmandu, May 4:

League champions Mahendra Police Club are playing against an All-Star team in a friendly match here at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday, in their bid to build-up for the AFC President’s Cup slated for May 17-27 in Pakistan.

Rajesh Shahi of Nabil Three Star Club will lead the All-Star team comprising players from various clubs. Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF), which is organising the match to help the league champions’ build-up, chose the players from various clubs.

Strikers Anil Gurung (MMC), Nirajan Rayamajhi (Three Star) and Santosh Sahukhala (APF) will challenge the MPC defence, while national league’s best goalkeeper Surendra Shrestha and Binod Dangol are poised to guard the goal against the likes of Jumanu Rai and Ramesh Budhathoki.

Others in the All-Star squad are Lok Bandhu Gurung, Anjan KC, Ramesh Sinkeman, Sandeep Rai, Biraj Maharjan, Ratna Kaji Maharjan, Umesh Upreti, Roshan Lamichhane, Basanta Gauchan, Bishan Gurung, Balgopal Sahukhala, Jeevan Sinkeman, Nabin Neupane, and Khum Gurung.

Apart from the regular players of the team that won the league, the policemen have signed three new players from Sankata — Chetan Ghimire, Rabin Shrestha and Roshan Karki. After long-time skipper Hari Khadka was ruled out for the tournament due to knee injury, Ramesh Budhathoki — who took is league goal tally to 50 this season — has been given the job to lead the MPC.

The MPC qualified for the third edition of the AFC’s Cup after winning the Martyrs’ Memorial League this year. They will join seven other countries in Lahore later this month. In the first two editions held in Kathmandu and Malaysia respectively, Nabil Three Star and Carlsberg MMC represented the country.