ANFA plans to finish maintenance work of stadium and ground by March 20.
Nepal is hosting matches of group D, which includes hosts Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka and play-off winner between Bhutan and Afghanistan. Top two team of the group will qualify for the final. The matches will be held at Dasharath Stadium and APF ground at Halchowk.
The ground condition of the only international stadium of the nation owned by the National Sports Council (NSC) was in a poor condition. The concert of Canadian rock star Bryan Adams on February 19 and professional wrestling on February 26 was held in the same venue.
Likewise, last tributes to former Prime Minister and founding member of Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai were paid at the same venue on Sunday.
The tournament, which earlier was scheduled to start on March 21, was postponed for April 7 as maintenance of the ground was hindered by the concert and wrestling.
As large portion of the ground was without grass and the surface was uneven, ANFA has started putting turf on the ground. ANFA has collected the turf from Bhaktapur, Bhainsepati, Naikap, Chhampi and Swayambhu. They have deployed 30 workers for the maintenance purpose.
“We will finish filling the surface by Sunday and complete overall maintenance work by March 20,” event coordinator and ANFA Vice President Lalit Krishna Shrestha told Republica, adding that they have already brought 13 trucks of turf for the purpose.
Bhutan to arrive Tuesday
National football team of Bhutan is all set to reach Kathmandu on March 15 for friendly matches with the Nepali counterpart, an ANFA source said.
Bhutan are playing against Nepal as a part of their preparation for playoff matches against Afghanistan scheduled to be held in Indian capital Delhi on March 23 and 25. The playoff winners will join other teams of groups D including Nepal, North Korea and Sri Lanka.
According to ANFA sources, Bhutan will play two matches one each in Kathmandu and Pokhara from March 15-20.
Graham Roberts is looking after Nepali team for the Challenge Cup as the coach. The 51-year Briton is the former England international and the Tottenham and Chelsea player.
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