Thinley Namgay

BoB Bhutan Premier League 2021 champions Paro FC is leaving the country on March 28 for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup against Club Valencia of the Maldives.

Paro FC will face  Valencia on April 5 for the preliminary game.

The 21-member squad, including players, officials and medical staff, have put in place all necessary arrangements amid the pandemic.

On March 28, the team will land in New Delhi, India and undergo five-day training there and will head to the Maldives on April 2.

The club began rigorous preparation last month. Paro FC’s head coach, Puspalal Sharma, said he is confident about the match. “As far as preparation is concerned, we hope to give a good match.”

Club Valencia is the second position holder in the 2020-2021 season’s Dhivehi Premier League, the highest professional football league in the Maldives. Valencia debuted in the AFC Cup in 2002.

The winner  of the preliminary round will face Bangladeshi’s top professional club Abahani Ltd Dhaka. Abahani Ltd Dhaka is a well-known club in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Paro is participating in the AFC Cup for the second time. In 2020, Paro played against Defenders FC of Sri Lanka and Bengaluru FC of India.