Hyderabad, Jul 29 (UNI) Inaugural edition of Asian Football Cofederation(AFC) Challenge Cup would be inaugurated here tomorrow, with eight teams vying for top honours.
Hyderabad, having a rich soccer tradition once and played a stellar role in India gaining the fourth spot at Melbourne Olympics in 1956, would be hosting a continental quadrennial event again.
Talking to newspersons here, Indian team coach Bob Houghton, exuded confidence that his boys will rise to the occasion.
The Indian team, which lost to Maldieves in the final of the South Asian Football Federation(SAFF) at Colombo, could manage to restore parity in a practice match against Malaysia at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, here a few days ago.
Mr Houghton said he hoped the Indian team would win in their opening encounter against Afghanistan.
Groups: Group-A: 1 Turkmenistan, 2 India, 3 Afghanistan, 4 Tajikistan.
Group-B: 1 DPR Korea, 2 Myanmar, 3 Nepal, 4 Sri Lanka.
Schedule: July 30 Turkmenistan vs Tajikistan 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium India vs Afghanistan 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium July 31 DPR Korea vs Sri Lanka 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium Myanmar vs Nepal 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium August 1 Tajikistan vs India 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium Afghanistan vs Turkmenistan 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium August 2 Sri Lanka vs Myanmar 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium Nepal vs DPR Korea 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium August 3 Turkmenistan vs India 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium Afghanistan vs Tajikistan 1830 hrs at Lal Bahadur Stadium August 4 DPR Korea vs Myanmar 1830 hrs at Lal Bahadur Stadium Nepal vs Sri Lanka 1830 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium August 7 13 Winner A vs Runner-up B 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium 14 Winner B vs Runner-up A 1900 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium August 10 15 Loser Match 13 vs Loser Match 14 1600 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium 16 Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 14 1900 hrs at Gachibowli Stadium UNI XR/BR AB HT1955