Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Karachi: Pakistan champions KRL are hoping for a reschedule of some of their matches in the Premier League which will start on September 1 as they prepared for the AFC President‘s Cup 2012 finals.
Six teams from the continent’s emerging nations will take part in the final round in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 24-30, with the draws to be held on July 31 in the Tajikistani capital, where two groups of three teams each will be formed and the winners of each group will make it to the final.
The Pakistani club qualified for the AFC President's Cup finals along with defending champions Taiwan Power Company from Group A whose matches were held in Lahore, Pakistan, in May.
“As you know, we are going to feature in a very important round and for which the team need good preparation,” KRL manager Ayaz Butt told The News.
“We have invited all our players and most probably we will kick-start our preparation for the event on July 22. Then some of our players will join the national camp from August 25 to 31 and then the Premier League will commence from September 1.
“We are ready to release our players for the national team but we have already told the PFF that whenever we need our stuff they will have to provide it without any reluctance.
“At this moment we would try to avoid travelling. I hope that we will be given some concession by the authorities ahead of our assignment in Tajikistan,” he said, adding he wanted the team to leave for Dushanbe four or five days before the competition so they would have enough time for training and acclimatisation.
Taiwan Power Company, Tajikistan’s Istiklol FC, Dordoi Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, KRL, Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC and Al Amma’ri Youth Club of Palestine will take part in the competition.