With the group stage of the AFC Cup in sight ahead of the five games across the Continent, the-AFC.com has picked out five players to look out for in the first legs of the Qualifiers.
Chencho Gyeltshen
Defenders FC (SRI) vs Paro FC (BHU)
Long since talked about as the biggest talent in Bhutan, Chencho Gyeltshen made his international debut at just 14 years of age and has since had a nomadic career across ASEAN and South Asia.
Having joined Thai giants Buriram United in 2015, before going back and forth between his homeland, Bangladesh and India with various clubs, Gyeltshen is now aiming to fire Paro FC towards Bhutan's first-ever appearance in the AFC Cup.
His most successful period came in helping India’s Minerva Punjab create headlines in winning the I-League title in 2017-18 before he was snapped up by Indian Super League giants Bengaluru FC, where he spent a season.
Now back in Bhutan with league champions and hometown club Paro, Gyeltshen will feel he has plenty to prove as he aims to inspire them past Sri Lankan side Defenders FC into Preliminary Round 2 and a date with former side Bengaluru.
Mohammed Darwish
Hilal Al Quds (PLE) vs Sur Club (OMA)
Part of the Palestine side that reached the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, Mohammed Darwish started all three of his country’s games as they posted a commendable two draws from three games.
The midfielder has enjoyed a trophy-laden period with Hilal Al Quds, meanwhile, winning three successive West Bank Premier League titles since joining in 2016.
Darwish also played every minute of every game in the side’s maiden AFC Cup campaign in 2019, when they won two and drew two of their six games.
On Tuesday, Darwish will be expected to take his place in the starting line-up with Hilal Al Quds facing Omani side Sur Club in the play-off round as they eye a second consecutive appearance in the competition.
Marc Klok
Lalenok United (TLS) vs PSM Makassar (IDN)
Netherlands-born Marc klok was one of the stars of the show for PSM Makassar in 2019 as the Indonesian side made the AFC Cup knockout rounds at the first attempt.
Since joining from Scottish side Dundee in 2017, Klok has helped his team win the 2019 Piala Indonesia, which saw Makassar advance to the 2020 AFC Cup’s qualifying rounds.
Last year, Klok netted three times in the competition, with his long-range strike against Lao Toyota FC being voted as the 2019 AFC Cup’s best goal.
The 26-year-old will now be targeting a second successive AFC Cup berth ahead of the two-legged play-off showdown with Timor-Leste side Lalenok United.
Maung Maung Lwin
Indera SC (BRU) vs Yangon United (MYA)
One of the hottest properties in the Myanmar National League, Maung Maung Lwin goes into Wednesday's play-off game against Brunei Darussalam's Indera SC following a goal-scoring performance in Yangon United's weekend victory over Zwekapin United.
The 24-year-old Myanmar international's goals helped Yangon advance to the 2018 ASEAN Zonal semi-finals as they matched their best-ever performance on the Continent before a narrow defeat to Ceres Negros.
While the capital city side exited at the group stage last year, the wide man netted the only goal of the game as Yangon defeated Hanoi FC in Vietnam in one of the shocks of the first round.
Able to play down the right or left sides, Maung Maung Lwin created Yangon’s joint-highest number of chances in last year’s campaign and it is he Brunei Indera SC will have to be wary of.
Privat Befolo Mbarga
Svay Rieng FC (CAM) vs Master 7 (LAO)
After winning the 2019 C-League, suffering just one defeat and scoring an incredible 88 goals in 26 games, Cambodian champions Svay Rieng will be attempting to reach the AFC Cup group stage for the first time when they host Laos’ Master 7 in the first leg of the play-off round on Wednesday.
Cameroonian forward Privat Befolo Mbarga finished as the C-League’s top scorer on 36 goals last year having joined from fellow Cambodian side Asia Euro United, where he had also finished second in the scoring charts the previous year.
In recent years, Boeung Ket FC and Naga World have represented Cambodia in the AFC Cup group stage, with the Southeast Asian country making its tournament debut in 2017.
Svay Rieng will now look to make it four successive appearances in the competition for the ASEAN nation and they will hope the prolific Mbarga can fire them past the Laotians.
