A two-member AFC delegation inspected the famous Punjab Stadium and training fields around Lahore to decide whether the venues are equipped with required facilities to stage the third AFC President's Cup from September 20-30, 2007.
The AFC delayed the event to be held from May 17 to 27, because of visa problems. AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam said that Lahore was the venue in recognition of contribution by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Faisal Saleh Hayat for the game in Pakistan.
They also assessed the value of glittering Model Town Football Club/Academy's Ground, Garhi Shahue's Railway Stadium, Wohaib Club's home ground at Lake Road (Chauburji) and ground of the oldest educational institution of higher education in Pakistan, Government College University (GCU) near Session Court to pick training field venues.
The PFF will host the 2007 tournament after Nepal did it in 2005 and Malaysia in 2006. The delegation with PFF officials checked and inspected the facilities including the playing field, floodlights, dressing room, technical officials' rooms, Secretariat at Punjab Stadium and Media facilities at Media Centre and stadium. The delegation will visit more venues on Thursday before they leave the country on Friday night.
The Punjab Stadium will host 13 matches while two matches are being awarded to WAPDA Sports Complex, Kot Lakhpat. Kyrgyzstan's Dordoi-Dynamo will be defending their title.
Other teams in the fray are Sri Lanka's Ratnam Sports Club, Khemara of Cambodia, former champions Regar-Tadaz of Tajikistan, Tatung Club of Chinese Taipei, Transport United of Bhutan, Mahendra Police Club of Nepal and Pakistan Army. Shin Mangil venue manager of the 8-club show, and Imtiaz Rehman made up the delegation.
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