NRT to face Dordoi on Friday

PRAJWAL OLI

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, May 13: New Road Team (NRT) of Nepal will face Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan on Friday in their second match of the AFC President´s Cup group ´A´ qualifiers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Unlike the five-time finalists and two-time title holders Dordoi, debutant NRT will be under pressure to win their match to keep their hopes afloat to book a spot in the final round.

Dordoi already having registered an impressive 5-0 rout over Hasus NTCPE of Chinese Taipei will come up with a high morale. NRT had lost in their first outing to Abahani Limited at the home turf on Wednesday.

NRT who got chance for official international participation after 14 years still are not in the mood to give up. “The match against Dordoi will be a do-or-die match for us,” stated NRT coach Yogamber Suwal to a Nepali official in Dhaka. However, he was apprehensive about the hot weather in Bangladesh. In all previous five editions, Nepali clubs have not won a single match against Dordoi.

“It does not matter which among the two teams is strong, but we will put in all our efforts against the Kyrgyz team,” Suwal said.

NRT skipper and goalie Surendra Shrestha is also determined to win the match at any cost. “Despite the tough opponents we are not nervous. We know that we must win the match to keep us in the race for the final round,” Shrestha echoed a similar view.

NRT will try to better their defending lineup and come up with first choice players. NRT will play low ball against the physically taller and stronger opponents.

Dordoi on the other hand have already presented themselves as the title favorites with an impressive victory against Hasus, and are eager to repeat their glorious history.

Though five of their players had passed out due to hot weather in their previous match, Dordoi coach Dvoryankov Sergie claimed that they are able to win irrespective of weather conditions. “We must defend our glorious history. Climatic conditions should not matter a professional team,” said Sergie.

Nepali teams´ results against Dordoi

2005 semifinal

Three Star 3-4 (tiebreaker)

2006 group stage

MMC 0-2

2007 group stage

Police 0-3

Final

Police 1-2

2008 semifinal

Police 1-3