Abahani leave for Cambodia today to play in AFC President Cup

A 30-member team of Dhaka Abahani Limited leave Dhaka early today (Thursday) for Cambodia to take part in Group A matches of the AFC President Cup qualifier to be held May 21-25 at the National Olympic Stadium in Pnom Penh, reports UNB. Earlier, the three-time Bangladesh League champions Abahani Limited have been placed in Group A of the 12-team AFC meet alongside Penh Crown FC of hosts Cambodia, Don Bosco Sports Club of Sri Lanka and Neftchi Kochkor ATA of Kazakhstan. On the eve of their departure for Cambodia, Abahani's football manager Satyajit Das Rupu said: "Our target is to reach the final round of the meet. I think it won't be difficult for us in the new format." Bangladesh League champions Abahani Limited will play their opening group match against Neftchi Kochkor ATA of Kazakhstan on May 21, their 2nd match against hosts Penh Crown FC of Cambodia on May 23, and the 3rd and last match against Don Bosco Sports Club of Sri Lanka on May 25. Twelve teams, split into three groups, will initially play in the qualifying meet on league basis. Later, two top teams from each of the three groups will play in the final round of the three-tier Asian club meet. Bangladesh champions Abahani Limited made early exit from the group stages on three previous occasions.