Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda didn’t hold back when discussing the conditions at Nepal’s Dashrath Stadium. The seasoned player, who has seen some of the world’s finest pitches, expressed his surprise and concern after setting foot on the ground.
“At first, I thought it was a joke,” Honda said candidly. “I can’t compare this to the stadiums we have used previously. It doesn’t matter how much we complain. I will prepare, there is one more day for training tomorrow. I don’t think we can use this pitch 100% for the match. It is the same condition for the other party. How not to lose quality, that’s what I think is important.”
Honda’s comments come just before a highly anticipated match where Nepal’s Church Boys United is set to face Paro FC of Bhutan on August 13 at 6 PM. The stakes are high as the winning team will secure a spot in the AFC Challenge League 2024/25. However, the challenge is compounded by the forecast of rain, making the already difficult pitch conditions even tougher for both teams.
As the players prepare for this crucial encounter, all eyes are on how they will adapt to the unpredictable conditions. With the rain expected, the match is shaping up to be a real test of resilience and adaptability.