In the AFC Challenge Cup playoffs, a highly anticipated match between Nepalese league champion Church Boys United Club and Bhutanese league champion Paro FC is set to take place at Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday, August 13.
This match marks the first international game at Dasharath Stadium in about nine months, raising concerns about the condition of the pitch. The last international match at this venue was held on November 18, 2023, between Nepal and Yemen.
During this period, Nepal’s national team was unable to play two scheduled games at Dasharath Stadium due to unsuitable field conditions. As a result, Nepal had to play its FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Bahrain and the UAE at neutral venues.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously expressed concerns about the pitch quality, security situation, and flood risk at Dasharath Stadium, leading to a temporary ban on hosting international matches at the venue.
However, after AFC granted permission to host international football matches at Dasharath Stadium, the upcoming game between Church Boys United and Paro FC was scheduled.
Bhutanese team Paro’s coach, Puspalal Sharma, voiced concerns about playing at Dasharath Stadium, citing challenges with the weather and the condition of the pitch. In a pre-match press conference on Monday, he mentioned that both the weather and the field presented significant difficulties, even affecting their training session the previous day.
Paro’s Japanese player, Keisuke Honda, also expressed dissatisfaction with the training conditions. Initially, Paro was supposed to train at the Nepalese army ground in Bhadrakali, but due to delays in preparing the field, they had to practice at Dasharath Stadium instead.
In a video posted on social media, Honda described the training ground as subpar, mentioning that he was initially shocked by the state of the field. Despite this, he expressed relief that the team was eventually able to train on the same field where the match will be held. He acknowledged that while the pitch was not ideal, he would do his best to adapt.
When asked about the presence of a star player like Honda on his team, Coach Sharma emphasized the importance of team cohesion over individual talent. He expressed disappointment that Honda considered the field one of the worst he had ever played on.
Church Boys United Club also faced challenges with their pre-match preparations, as they were unable to train at Dasharath Stadium. Coach Balgopal Maharjan admitted that this could impact their performance. However, team captain Ananta Tamang, who has previously played at the stadium, downplayed the issue, stating that the long gap between games wouldn’t affect his team’s performance.
Kiran Rai, General Secretary of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), confirmed that the AFC had approved Dasharath Stadium for the Challenge Cup after a thorough inspection. He mentioned that AFC officials would continue to monitor the venue during the event and conduct further inspections for future tournaments.
Tanklal Ghising, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, assured that Dasharath Stadium is now in excellent condition. He emphasized that the AFC’s approval came only after a rigorous inspection, and he expressed confidence in the stadium’s readiness for international matches.
Following the Challenge Cup playoffs, ANFA will host the SAFF U-20 Championship at Dasharath Stadium from August 19 to August 29. Additionally, the SAFF Women’s Championship is scheduled for October in Kathmandu, and two international rugby tournaments are planned for September as part of the Asia Rugby program.
