Road to Finals starts Sunday

Source: AFC

Kuala Lumpur 06 May 2010: The road to the Finals of the AFC President’s Cup starts on Sunday, May 9, when Group C sides Turkmenistan title holders ITTU and Bhutan’s Drukstars clash at the Youth Training Centre in the Myanmarese capital of Yangon.

Eleven clubs are vying for four spots in the tournament proper. The top clubs from each group and the best runner-up will advance to the Finals, which is scheduled to take place in September.

On May 10, the action shifts to the Aung Sun Stadium in Yangon where the Group B challenge gets underway. Nagacorp of Cambodia take on Pakistan’s Khan Laboratories in the first match while Tajik league winners Vakhsh lock horns with Sri Lanka’s Renown Sports Club.

Two days later, Group A gets kicking at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital.

Here, Kyrgyz champions Dordoi’s quest for a sixth consecutive final appearance starts against Hasus NTCPE of Chinese Taipei. The next match will see local favourites Abahani Limited go up against Nepali outfit New Road Team.

The AFC President’s Cup trophy has always remained with Central Asian teams since its inception in 2005. Tajik powerhouse Regar Tadaz won the inaugural edition before Dordoi scooped the title twice in 2006 and 2007. Regar, who didn’t qualify for this instalment, came back to win the next two editions.