Afghanistan Starts Practice Camp in Kabul

The practice camp of the national team started two days ago in the AFF Stadium in Kabul. The 14 domestic players who are called for the national team would have a 10-12 day practice camp in Kabul following to another 10-12 day practice in Dubai.

16 Afghan players who plays in USA, India, Bahrain, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands will join the squad in Dubai. The Head Coach will select 23 players at the end of Dubai camp. A one week camp will also be arranged in Dubai right before the team travels to Laos. AFF is also arranging two friendly matches with two UAE clubs in the third camp.

AFF has invited a number of players from the squad that played in 2011 SAFF Championship and a pool of players from the Premier League teams. AFF has not released the names of all invited players, but I can confirm Maqsood Hashimi, Wahid Nadim, Hamid Yousefzai, Moqadar Qazizada and Marood Mohammadi participated in today's practice session.

Afghanistan is drawn with Laos, Sri Lanka and Mongolia in Group C of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier to be held between March 2-6 in Laos.

Yousef Kargar said in an interview the qualifier and the main tournament are very important and he hopes Afghanistan can win and qualify of the AFC Cup of Nations to be held in 2015 in Australia.