ANFA all set for AFC U-19 qualifiers

Kathmandu, 23 Oct 2009 - All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has completed preparations for the AFC U-19 group ´A´ qualifier matches to be held at Dasharath Stadium and APF Ground at Halchowk from Sunday.

Organizing a press conference at the Dasharath Stadium on Friday, ANFA General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan said the technical manpower -- match commissioner, referee assessors, FIFA referees and assistant referees -- deployed by the Asian Football Confederation to conduct the tournament has arrived on Thursday. An assistant referee will be arriving on Friday evening.

Three matches -- two at Dasharath Stadium and one at APF Ground -- will be held each day on Oct 25, Oct 27, Oct 29, Nov 1 and Nov 4. The second match at the Dasharath Stadium will be telecast live on NTV2. The entry fee has been set at Rs 100 in simple and Rs 200 in VVIP parapet.

Sunrise Bank that has sponsored Rs 1.5 million for the event is the main sponsor of the tournament. Speaking on the occasion, general manager of the bank Suman Neupane said they would further extend support to sports sector if the bank continued with their ongoing financial progress.

Meanwhile, assistant coach of Nepali team Kishor KC said the team is fullly prepared and will try to come up with good shows in the matches. “Our aim is to qualify for the final round,” he said. “The attacking line-up of the team will be strong if Nirajan Malla plays the match.” Malla was injured last Wednesday while undergoing training and had to take rest for a week. “He is 90 percent fit and I hope he will be able to play the matches.”

He also said all the teams are physically dominant than the Nepali team. KC has judged Yemen as the strongest opponent for the Nepali side. Revealing the strategy of the team, he said the team will come up in the 4-4-2 formation.

Six teams --Tajikistan, Jordan, Yemen, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal -- are pitted in the group. Top two teams of the group will advance into the final round of the tournament to be held next year. The matches will be held on the round robin basis.

Match Schedule

October 25, Sunday
Tajikistan Vs Kyrgyzstan @ 12:00 Dasharath Stadium
Jordan Vs Palestine @ 14:00 Halchowk Ground
Yemen Vs Nepal @ 14:30 Dasharath Stadium

October 27, Tuesday
Jordan Vs Yemen @ 12:00 Dasharath Stadium
Nepal Vs Kyrgyzstan @ 14:30 Dasharath Stadium
Tajikistan Vs Palestine @ 14:00 Halchowk Ground

October 29, Thursday
Palestine Vs Yemen @ 12:00 Dasharath Stadium
Tajikistan Vs Nepal @ 14:30 Dasharath Stadium
Kyrgyzstan Vs Jordan @ 14:00 Halchowk Ground

November 1, Sunday
Kyrgyzstan Vs Palestine @ 12:00 Dasharath Stadium
Nepal Vs Jordan @ 14:30 Dasharath Stadium
Yemen Vs Tajikistan @ 14:00 Halchowk Ground

November 4, Wednesday
Tajikistan vs Jordan @ 12:00 Dasharath Stadium
Kyrgystan vs Yemen @ 14:00 Halchowk Ground
Palestine vs Nepal @ 14:30 Dasharath Stadium