August 02, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 17, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 1: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has asked the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to make strict security arrangements for AFC President’s Cup which is to be held here from Sept 20 to 30.

While inspecting facilities at the proposed venue — Punjab Stadium, the two-member AFC delegation comprising Shin Mangil and Imtiaz Rehman, asked the PFF to ensure adequate security arrangements during the event.

The event was to be held at the same venue from May 17 to 27, but was postponed due to lack of security arrangements, while few participating countries failed to get visas on time. The AFC has once again awarded the event to Pakistan, asking them to make proper arrangements.

The AFC delegation, along with the PFF officials, inspected the facilities including the playing field, floodlights, dressing rooms, technical officials’ rooms, secretariat at Punjab Stadium, media facilities and the stadium. They have asked the PFF to make satisfactory security arrangements and build an electronic scoreboard to give more colour to the stadium, a PFF press release said on Wednesday.

The delegation will visit more venues on Thursday before departing on Friday night. The officials also visited different venues to select training fields for the participating teams.

The Punjab Stadium, which will host thirteen matches, while two matches will be played at Wapda Sports Complex.

Kyrgyzstan's Dordoi-Dynamo will be defending their title. Other teams in the fray are Sri Lanka’s Ratnam Sports Club, Khemara of Cambodia, former champions Regar-Tadaz of Tajikistan, Tatung Club of Chinese Taipei, Transport United of Bhutan, Mahendra Police Club of Nepal and Pakistan Army.