September 20, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 07, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 19: Pakistan Army will face Ratnam Sports, Sri Lanka, in the opening match of the 3rd Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup to be played under floodlights here at the Punjab Stadium on Thursday.

Besides the clash between Army and Ratnam, the opening day will also have Bhutan’s Transport United taking on Tajikistan’s Regar-Tadaz at 11.00pm.

The eight-team competition also includes Nepal’s Mahendra Police Club, Camodia’s Khemara Club, Taiwan’s Tatung Club and the defending champions Kyrghystan’s Dorodi Dynamo.

The teams have been placed in two pools. Pool ‘A’ comprises Pakistan Army, Ratnam Sports, Regar-Tadaz, Transport United and Pool ‘B’ includes Khemara, Dordoi, Dynamo, Tatung, Mahendra Police.

Organised by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), the event was earlier planned for June this year but the federation then had failed to get visas for three teams, namely, Transport United, Regar-Tadaz and Tatung, when the AFC decided to defer the competition.

There will be 15 matches in all, including the final. The top two teams from each pool will enter the semi-finals on Sept 27 and 28. There will be no third-place match and the final will be played on Sept 30.

Except for two matches, between Regar-Tadaz and Ratnam and Dordoi Dynamo vs Tatung that will be played at the Railways Stadium on Sept 24 and 25, respectively, all the other 13 will be played at the Punjab Stadium.

All the teams at present are training at different venues including the Punjab Stadium, Railway Stadium, Government College, University and Model Town Club.

Draws:

Sept 20: Pakistan Army v Ratnam SC (8.15pm); Transport United v Regar-Tadaz (11.00pm).

Sept 21: Khemara v Dordoi-Dynamo (7.30pm), Tatung v Mahendra Police (10.15pm).

Sept 22: Pakistan Army v Regar-Tadaz (7.30pm), Ratnam SC v Transport United (10.15pm).

Sept 23: Tatung v Khemara (7.30pm), Dordoi-Dynamo v Mahendra Police (10.15pm)

Sept 24: Pakistan Army v Transport United (4.00pm), Regar-Tadaz v Ratnam SC (4.00pm).

Sept 25: Khemara v Mahendra Police (4.00pm), Dordoi Dynamo v Tatung (4.00pm).

Sept 27: Semi-final (7.30pm).

Sept 28: Semi-final (7.30pm)

Sept 30: Final (8.30pm).