Dempo meets Al Ansar on Mar 11 in Goa

Panaji, Mar 8 (UNI) Champions Dempo Sports Club will begin their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Pool 'A' campaign on March 11 by taking on Al Ansar of Lebanon at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, in Margao.

Speaking to reporters here today, Dempo Group of Companies Chairman Srinivas Dempo, who is also the President of Dempo Club, said his side will play six matches and three of them will be played on home grounds.

He said that Dempo's second match will be against Sur (Oman) on March 18 at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat and the third match will be against Al Myharaq (Bahrain) on home ground on April 2. The fourth match will be played against Al Muharaq (Bahrain) at Bahrain National Stadium, and the fifth match against Al Ansar (Lebanon) on April 30 will be played at Sports City Stadium in Beirut. The last match will be played against Sur (Oman) at the Fatorda stadium.

After winning the ONGC I league and Super Cup, Dempo is upbeat about their chances in the upcoming AFC Cup, Mr Dempo added.

He said that defender Mahesh Gawali, Valerian Joseph Rebel, midfielder Anthony Pereira, Clifford Miranda, and goalkeeper V P Satish Kumar, who are nursing injuries, are doubtful starters for the opening match. However, he was hopeful that Gawali, Rebel and Pereira will be fit for the second match against Sur (Oman).

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