ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: Pakistan will enter two teams while four other countries of the region will be represented at the Asian U-14 Football Festival to be held at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex in April.

Besides A and B strings of Pakistan, teams from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka will compete in the Group C of Asian Under-14 Football Festival which will run from April 21 to 27.

The Development Officer (South Asia, grassroots & youth department) of Asian Football Confederation, Muhammad Hashim, gave the salient features of the festival to the reporters after inspecting the facilities on Tuesday.

He said India had been included in Group D, to be played at Tehran, of the Festival which itself was not a formal competition and as such there would be no trophy and no title winners.

“This festival is meant to prepare the under-14 players of the respective regions and countries for the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” he explained.

“It is mandatory for each team to use all its 18 players and play nine matches each.”

During the tournament, AFC will also hold a coaching course, referees “C” lincence course and head coaches workshop.—APP