Ahead of their AFC Challenge League Play-Off match against Bhutan’s Paro F.C, Church Boys United head coach Bal Gopal Maharjan expressed concerns over the AFC rule allowing teams to field unlimited foreign players. Maharjan believes this rule is unfair, favoring clubs with greater financial resources.
Paro F.C has fully utilized this rule, including 11 foreign players in their squad, with nine already part of their Bhutan Premier League campaign. Among them is 38-year-old Japanese football star Keisuke Honda, who recently joined the team.
In contrast, Church Boys United has chosen to recruit only three foreign players, focusing on players from Nepal’s National Football Team. Maharjan suggested that limitations on foreign players would have been better for representing a country, akin to previous AFC Cup rules.
The match is scheduled for August 13th, with the winner advancing to the AFC Challenge League group stage and earning a $100,000 prize.
Match Details:
- Date: 13th August 2024
- Time: 6:00 PM (NST)
- Venue: Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu
- Broadcast: Hamro Khelkudh
- Ticket Prices: General Stand: Rs.200, VIP Stand: Rs.500