AFC Cup final postponed, Delhi tipped as alternate venue

Hyderabad, August 9 : Heavy rains have forced a postponement of the AFC Challenge Cup final between India and Tajikistan scheduled to be held at Gachibowli Stadium on Sunday. The match now moves out of Hyderabad and is likely to be played in Delhi on August 13. A final decision in this regard would be taken after the AFC delegation inspects the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi tomorrow.

“By Sunday evening, we will decide on the date and venue of the final and the third-fourth place playoff after a final inspection is done,” AFC media officer Steve Tae Kim said.

According to India coach Bob Houghton, this is the best possible option at this moment. “The ground condition is awful and we don’t want the final of such an important tournament to be decided by the stroke of luck rather than footballing abilities. A deferment of one month or two months will disrupt India’s domestic schedule. So I think this is comparatively better,” he said.

Sunil Chhetri, whose goal in the semi-final against Myanmar has brought India on the threshold of an Asian Cup qualification believes that they can maintain the tempo despite the postponement. “As a player our job is to give 200 per cent and not to think about where and when the match will be played.” Houghton also said that it wouldn’t affect the focus and concentration of the team as the boys are “very determined”.

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