Anil Gurung registers in NRT for Prez Cup

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, April 10: New Road Team (NRT) have included their former striker Anil Gurung in the list of 26 players registered for the AFC President´s Cup 2010.

NRT who got chance to represent Nepal as the winners of the first leg of the ongoing Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League registered their players on Tuesday.

Gurung enrolled for three years in the Shillong Lajong FC, a first division outfit of India, is currently playing in the I-League as a professional footballer. However, it is not certain whether he will play in the President´s Cup.

“We have registered Gurung´s name as the I-League will stop from May 9,” said NRT General-secretary Binay Pradhan. “We have corresponded Shillong Lajong requesting them to give release order of Gurung for the President´s Cup. However, we haven´t got any response from there."

“If Shillong Lajong agree then we may field him in the squad. We have also requested All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to take initiative for this,” Pradhan added.

Anil who got enrolled in NRT in 2007 could not play the league from the team as the domestic league was halted for three years due to dispute between some clubs and ANFA. Gurung joined Shillong Lajong in 2009.

The qualifying round of AFC President´s Cup is set to be held from May 12-16 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Along with NRT, Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan, Abahani Limited of Bangladesh and Yoedy of Chinese Taipei are fielded in group A.

A total of 11 teams participating in the President´s Cup are divided into three groups. The winners of the round robin league and the best runners up among all three groups will qualify for the final round.