DUSHANBE, September 24, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s football champion Regar-TadAZ of Tursunzoda, which is representing Tajikistan in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup 2007, hammered Transport United of Bhutan 13-0 on September 21 and beat Pakistani Pakistan Army 2-1 on September and won the right to play in the semifinal in advance, Asia-Plus has learned from Tajikistan’s Football Federation (TFF).  

Regar-TadAZ has been competing with Transport United (Bhutan), Pakistan Army (Pakistan), and Ratnam Sports Club (Sri Lanka) in Group A for playing in the semifinal.

The source at a TFF said that Regar-TadAZ had beaten Pakistan Army 2-1 to stay on top of their group and become the first side to qualify for the semi-final of the AFC President''s Cup in Lahore, Pakistan..

Along with Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo, Regar-TadAZ is billed as one of the favorites of the competition.  

Tomorrow, Tajik football players will meet with Ratnam Sports Club of Sri Lanka.

Regar-TadAZ became the very first AFC President’s Cup champions by defeating Dordai Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in the finals in Katmandu in May 2005. Regar remained undefeated in the whole tournament and its convincing win against the Kyrgyz saw it win the inaugural President’s Cup and pocket $50,000 as the top prize.  Dordoi, the runners up, got $25,000.

The AFC President''s Cup 2007 is the third edition of the AFC President’s Cup, a competition for football clubs in countries categorized as "emerging nations" by the Asian Football Confederation.  The eight teams that compete are split up into two groups and play each other team in their group once.  The winner of each group then plays the runner up in the other group in the semifinals, and the winners of the semifinal matches play in the final match to determine the winner. There is no third place match. Games are being played in Lahore, Pakistan between 20 and 30 September, 2007.