Top-tier outfits Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) have loaned in midfielder-cum-forward Avishek Rijal and defender Devendra Tamang to strengthen their squad for their Group ‘A’ match of the 2019 AFC Cup, Asia’s second-tier club competition, set to kick off with a match against Dhaka Abahani at the ANFA grounds on Wednesday.

Rijal is the influential winger of Nepal Police Club (NPC) and Tamang the defender of Chyasal Youth Club. It is the first time that any clubs in the country have formally loaned in players from other teams. MMC are representing Nepal in the event after winning the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League title. MMC will also be the first time from Nepal to play in the AFC Cup.

Three Star could have been the first team to represent Nepal in the event last year but they were deprived of the chance to play in the playoff due to utter negligence of All Nepal Football Association. ANFA failed to register the team for the competition despite repeated request for AFC. ANFA later paid Three Star Rs 15 million as compensation.

“We will not go into tournament just as one club of Nepal but we will be representing the country,” said MMC President Chhimi Urgen Gurung, who took over the club last month. “We have decided to loan in Rijal and Tamang in a bid to strengthen our squad. They joined the club on March 1 and remain until the month of June.”

Along with MMC and Abahani, the Group ‘E’ consists of India’s I-League champions Minerva Punjab and Indian Super League runners up Chennaiyin FC. “Our preparation is almost over and we are looking to pass the first hurdle and qualify for the next stage. We are hopeful of pulling good show,” said Gurung who has hired Chhiring Lopsang Gurung as coach replacing Suman Shrestha and Fuja Tope, who had guided the team to the league title. Former team captain Birat Jung Shahi is the technical analyst.

“As it is the first time any club of the country is hosting foreign team under Asian Football Confederation calendar, we have huge responsibility to organise the match successfully. All Nepal Football Association has been coordinating with us and providing technical support to us,” said Gurung.  

On the day MMC and Abahani clash, Chennaiyin will host Minerva Punjab. MMC will then travel to Ahmedabad to play Chennaiyin on April 17 and Bhubaneswar on May 1 to play Minerva. MMC will host Minerva on May 15 at Satdobato and before travelling to Dhaka on June 19. MMC will then play host to Chennaiyin in their last group match on June 26. The group winners will qualify for the Inter-zone playoff semi-finals to be held from June to September.

Tenzing Gurung, the vice president of MMC, informed that the visiting team would gate match fees of $ 40,000. Gurung informed that MCC are in good shape with everyone fit to play.