Paro FC to open AFC Challenge League campaign against Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC

Paro FC will begin their AFC Challenge League 2026/2027 Group A campaign against Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC at Changlimithang Stadium tomorrow evening. At a pre-match press conference in Thimphu, coaches and captains of all four teams shared their ambitions and preparations for the tournament.

Playing at home, Paro FC will look to make the most of their third consecutive appearance in the AFC Challenge League group stage. The team completed its final training session this morning and has registered 35 players, including 13 foreign players, for the campaign.

Head Coach of Paro FC, Pushpalal Sharma, said the team would aim to win the group and qualify for the quarter-finals.

“We will definitely try to win this group stage. If we win the group, we go into the quarter-finals of the AFC Challenge League. That would be a huge achievement for a club in Bhutan, so we will try to give our best,” he said.

Paro qualified for the group stage after defeating Afghanistan’s Abu Muslim Farah FC 2-0 in August this year. The club has won Bhutan’s national league six times between 2019 and 2025.

The 34-year-old Japanese midfielder Tomoyuki Hanazato will captain Paro FC in his second AFC Challenge League appearance for the club.

Hanazato said the players understood the coach’s tactical instructions and their respective roles ahead of the opening match.

“Everyone understands how we play. The coach gives us specific tactical instructions, and I believe the players know exactly what they need to do on the pitch. I cannot reveal our tactics at this stage, but we are clear about our roles and responsibilities,” he said.

Paro’s opening opponents, Ahal FC, won Turkmenistan’s top division in 2022 and are making their debut in the AFC Challenge League group stage.

Ahal FC Head Coach Annamuhammedov Eziz said the team’s objective was to advance from the group despite facing strong opponents.

“As with any official tournament or match, our goal is to win. Our objective is to advance from the group stage. Our opponents are very strong, but we will give it our all,” he said.

Ahal FC captain Hojamammedov Dovran said the team had prepared well and hoped to deliver its best performance.

“We have prepared well for this tournament and hope to play our best game. We are not afraid of anyone. We wish everyone good luck,” he said.

Lebanon’s Al-Ansar FC, founded in 1951, are among the country’s most successful clubs, with multiple domestic league and cup titles.

Al-Ansar FC coach Sultan said the team had held a training camp in Lebanon and was aiming to qualify for the next round.

“Our preparation was very good. We know the importance of this tournament. We held a training camp in Lebanon and came here to perform well for our country. We hope to qualify,” he said.

Captain Ali Tneish said the team was familiar with Paro FC after watching the Bhutanese club play against a Lebanese team last year.

“We saw Paro play against a team from Lebanon last year. We know them, and we have seen how they play. For me, as a player, that gives me motivation. The better team will win,” he said.

Syria’s Al-Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC, founded in 1949, complete Group A. The club won the AFC Cup in 2010.

Head Coach Valerie Tita said the team’s late arrival could affect the players’ ability to perform at their best, particularly given the altitude in Bhutan.

“The team from Lebanon arrived five days ago, while our team arrived only yesterday. With the altitude here at around 2,000 metres, I do not know whether the players can perform at 100 percent. It is difficult to reach that level just two days after travelling,” he said.

Captain Zakaria Hannan said the team needed sufficient rest to recover from the journey and prepare for the matches.

“The most important thing for us is to overcome our own challenges and get enough rest so that we can put in a good performance. We have not had much time to recover. The coach wants us to do a recovery session today, and tomorrow we also need to recover properly. God willing, we will overcome these challenges and put in a great performance,” he said.

The group stage runs until 23rd of this month, with each team playing three matches. The AFC Challenge League group stage features 20 teams divided into five groups.

The three West Region group winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the quarter-finals. The top two teams from each East Region group will also advance.

For Paro FC, the campaign offers another opportunity to make their mark in Asian club football, with home support behind them.

Karma Wangdi