Following their run to final in their first outing, an enthusiastic HSC are eager to make history, while NRT, having a long history, are also not in the mood to give up easily.[break]
Following the transfer of their key players to other clubs, the NRT team studded with young and lesser known players has shocked big names of current Nepali football fraternity. NRT have fielded about a dozen new players in their squad.
In the quarterfinal, NRT had registered a 1-0 win over the big-spending and star-studded Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club, and in the semifinal they had stunned league champions Nepal Police Club to end their 22-match unbeaten streak. NRT defeated Police 3-2 in a tiebreaker following a goalless stalemate in regulation time.
Similarly, HSC are also riding high on confidence after enjoying great success in their first appearance in top flight club football. In their first outing in a top level tournament, they had a hard fought 2-1 win over Friends Club and then shattered Army´s hopes of making it to the semifinals with a 1-0 extra time victory over the departmental team. In the semifinal, HSC stunned a rejuvenated APF 2-1.
HSC will have an attacking line up advantage over NRT. "Though we don´t have stars, there are future stars in our team," HSC coach Upendraman Singh had said after his team´s victory over Friends. Singh has the likes of young striker Deepak Rai in his squad who scored 10 goals for RCT in the A Division League last season.
HSC also have U-17 hero Jagjeet Shrestha, who scored a goal against APF in the semifinal, along with experienced players like Sagar Thapa, Nabin Neupane and goalie Rupak Shrestha.
NRT, unlike HSC, do not have a strong finishing line up. But the team is well-coordinated and the players have the ability to change the course of the game at any moment. NRT had held Police despite being limited to 10 men for the last 45 minutes and showed the same resilience during the last 16 minutes of their match against MMC despite being a man down.
Though HSC is a new team the players are experienced, said NRT coach Rajukaji Shakya. "HSC is a good team but we will throw a tough challenge to them." He however lamented on the absence of his key players like Laxman Ruchal and Pravin Saiju due to injury. Jeetendra Karki will also miss the final as he was slapped with a red card in the semifinal.
"This is a good tournament for gaining experience and the aim is to win the title," Shakya added.
HSC coach Singh, who has solely taken charge of a club for the first time, has taken the match as an opportunity to create history. "NRT is a club with a long history, and it is natural for a finalist to hope for the trophy. However, our main aim will be to put up a good show and get the love of fans and make more and more fans," said
Singh, adding, "It would be even better if we won the title."
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