Thinley Namgay
Paro FC will kick off the highly anticipated inaugural match of the AFC Challenge League’s Group A against East Bengal FC today at 5pm at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
Group A features Paro FC, the defending champions of the Bhutan Premier League, along with three other teams: East Bengal FC from India, Nejmeh Sporting Club from Lebanon, and Bashundhara Kings FC from Bangladesh.
In a later match tonight at 9pm, Nejmeh Sporting Club will face Bashundhara Kings FC.
The AFC Challenge League Group Stage includes 21 teams from across Asia, competing in six different countries starting today. Each team in the group will play against the others once.
At a pre-match press conference held yesterday in Thimphu, officials and players expressed optimism about the competitive nature of the upcoming matches.
Paro FC’s coach, Puspalal Sharma, spoke respectfully of their opponents, noting that they are among the oldest clubs in Asia. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but also expressed confidence in his team, thanks to their rigorous training over the past few months.
“Although our club is just eight years old, we have good international game exposure. I am confident that my players will do well,” he said. He also praised Keisuke Honda for his contributions during the qualifiers.
Paro FC has been training on artificial turf, which provides them with an edge, along with their adaptability to varying weather conditions. This tournament allows an unrestricted number of foreign players, strengthening all participating teams. For example, in a recent match against Church Boys United in Nepal, Paro FC featured nine international players, contributing to their success.
Captain Kazou Homma emphasied the team’s consistency and determination to make the most of this opportunity.
On the other side, East Bengal FC’s coach, Bino George, expressed his gratitude for the chance to compete in Bhutan. He believes the matches will be highly competitive since all teams are strong contenders in their respective national championships. However, he pointed out some challenges for his team, including limited experience on artificial turf and different climate conditions.
“Despite these odds, we will try our best,” he said.
East Bengal’s captain, Naorem Mahesh Singh, said that some squad members haven’t played on artificial turf for nearly a decade.
“Our first match against Paro FC will be tough, but we never know the result,” he said.
Nejmeh Sporting Club’s coach, Abbas Atwi, and captain, Kassem Elzein, expressed confidence in their team’s ability to perform well, despite the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
“Every success in this tournament would make our country and the people proud amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region,” Kassem Elzein said.
Atwi acknowledged that while the team hasn’t played competitively in the past five weeks, their spirit and talent remain strong.
Bashundhara Kings FC’s coach, Valeriu Tita, described their match against Nejmeh as tough, recognising Nejmeh as one of the most competent teams in the Middle East.
“Unlike our team, the opponent is comfortable playing on an artificial pitch,” he said, admitting that adapting to the artificial turf might be challenging for his squad.
Bashundhara’s captain, Topu Barman, said that although they’ve had only two months of training, their talented players possessed valuable international experience.
The tournament is set to take place between October 26 and November 1.