Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: The teams who have battled their way to the climactic stage of the 2012 AFC President's Cup will learn their initial opponents when the draw finals takes place in Dushanbe on Tuesday.
Six of the best club sides from the AFC's 'emerging nations' are in the pot for the draw, which will see the teams divided into two groups of three with the top two battling it out for the prestigious silverware in the September 30 final.
Host club Istikol will be looking to continue Tajikistan's proud record in the tournament with the clubs Central Asian republic having contested the trophy four occasions, with Regar TadAZ winning in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and Vaksh finishing runners-up in 2006.
Tajikistan's record in the competition is impressive but the real President's Cup powerhouse is six-time finalists Dordoi, winners in 2006 and 2007 and runners-up in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the Kyrgyzstan giants are also in Tuesday draw along with defending champions Taiwan Power Company and last year's beaten finalists Phnom Penh Crown.
Also in the fray are Pakistan's KRL (Khan Research Laboratories), who are taking part in the AFC President's Cup for the second time after being knocked out in the qualifying stage in 2010, and Al Amma'ri Youth, Palestine's champions who are making their debut in AFC competition.
The draw for the eighth edition of the AFC President's Cup takes place at 1100am local time at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dushanbe.