Football fans in Nepal are in for a treat as Japanese football superstar Keisuke Honda is set to touch down in the country. The former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow star will be playing for Bhutanese club Paro FC in the playoffs of the AFC Challenge League, scheduled for August 13th in Kathmandu.
The stage for this high-profile match is being set, and the preliminary round is already underway. Nepal’s Church Boys United, Shaheed Smarak A Division League champions, are facing off against Paro FC, Bhutan’s league champions.
Honda’s signing with Paro FC has sent ripples through the football world. The player, renowned for his time with the Japanese national team where he scored 37 goals in 98 matches, brings a wealth of experience to the Bhutanese club. His previous coaching roles for Cambodia’s national team and U-23 side further underscore his football acumen.
Paro FC aims to leverage Honda’s star power to elevate their game to new heights in Asian football. The club has also roped in William Opoku and Japan’s Koki Narita to bolster their squad.
Meanwhile, Church Boys United are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the AFC Challenge League. The Nepali champions have assembled a formidable team led by captain Anant Tamang, featuring national team top scorer Anjan Bista. Other notable players joining the squad include Arik Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Laken Limbu, Sanish Shrestha, and Deep Karki. The team is under the guidance of coach Balgopal Maharjan, who previously led them to the A Division League title.
With Honda’s arrival and the intense preparations by both teams, the AFC Challenge League playoffs promise to be a thrilling spectacle for football enthusiasts in Nepal.
