Pokhara, January 11:

Making it to the final for the first time in domestic tournament, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club are looking to make their mark when they meet powerhouse Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the final of the sixth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament here at the Pokhara Stadium on Saturday.

With no real star on their side, the APF have already stunned the star-studded New Road Team (NRT) in the first round before ousting Digganto Poshari Club of Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and Sahara UK in the semi-finals. “They (APF) are playing well at the moment but we will have no problem against them,” said NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha adding that they would not take APF lightly after what happended to NRT.

“We have quality and experienced players which they don’t have,” said the coach. Shrestha also boosted the strength of his substitute players. “I haven’t seen them playing technically sound game so far as they have been relying on their speed and stamina. “Our players may not have that much of speed but have enough stamina a prolonged game needs,” said Shrestha.

APF coach Damber Singh Gurung believed that they are playing well at the moment and that the real pressure would be on NPC. “They have star players with losts of experience and pressure to prevail over the weaker team will be on them,” said APF coach Gurung. “Everybody expects them (NPC) to win, so we are not worried about the result.”

NPC, who made it to the final with wins over Dharan Football Club, Nabil Three Star Club and hosts Sahara Club, would be even more cautious in the final after encountering a close call in the semi-final match against the hosts on Thursday. NPC needed penalty shootout to beat the underdogs Sahara. “We made terrible mistakes in the semi-finals and we are determined not to repeat them again in the final,” said the NPC coach.

Shrestha said that his team was yet to be set. “We have experienced players along with young and aspiring youths. I have been trying to set them properly since I took over the job.” He believed that if his players found rhythm and coordination, there would hardly be any threat from APF.

NPC are expected to field the same squad they played in the semi-final except skipper Ramesh Budhathoki. “He (Budhathoki) is still recovering from injury and is doubtful for the final,” said Shrestha. He said that the final decision on Budhathoki would be taken on Saturday. “We are not taking the opponents lightly,” said Budhathoki. APF have no injury scare going into the final.