Transport United is yet to gather squad for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2018.

The club will face Bengaluru FC on January 23 at home.

The club resumed training for the match on December 15, nine days after the fixture was announced.

Team manager Tshedupla said that the club conducted training for about two weeks without a complete squad.

He said that some players are involved in a local tournament in Phuentsholing. “Preparation for AFC is our biggest concern. We are not able to conduct the training properly. The coach is also involved in AFC-A licence coaching course.”

Team manager and the assistant coach currently supervise the club’s two-hour daily training.

Coach Ngawang Dhendup said: “We do not have much time. We have students in our squad. Exams and vacation coincided with the training sessions. We expect the whole squad to be back soon.”

After finishing as the champions of national league 2016-17 in October, Transport United FC was drawn against India’s Bengaluru FC. AFC announced the fixture for the AFC Cup 2017-18 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 6.

Club’s player, Tenzin Dorji, said that it would take minimum of two weeks to be ready for the match. “We need to train seriously to perform better,” he said.

The club was the country’s first to play the AFC tournament in 2005.

Club’s general secretary, Yeshey Samdrup, said that the players have been in touch with the game. “They were involved in several football and Futsal tournaments. It is a good opportunity for the players to show their talent.”

The club has invited Eze Collins, African professional player, who played for the club in 2008 on mutual understanding. The presence of 32-year-old striker from Mozambique is expected to improve the attacking front with Nagen Tamang from India returning for the match.

Both the foreign players are expected to join the squad in the first week of January for the training.

Ngawang Dhendup said that the club’s performance should be good. “It’s an opportunity where Indian clubs might recognize Bhutanese talents.”

Bengaluru FC is currently playing Indian Super League.

Nima

Advertisement