Foreign legion

Last year's opposing coaches in the final, Taiwan's Chen Kuei-Jen and PPCFC's David Booth (center) reminisce at Sunday's press conference

The teams competing in the 2012 edition of the AFC President's Cup have foreign players in their ranks except Pakistani champions KRL and last year's champions Taiwan Power Company. Serbian coach Nikola Kavazovic at host team Istiklol has lured Alexander Frank from Uzbek club Kyzylkum to beef up their contingent and the German playmaker will team up with Russian midfielder Aleksandr Kudriashov to keep the engine room running smoothly for the host Dushanbe side.
Al Ammari from Palestine, who will be making their debut in the final stage, have strengthened their defence with coach Raed Youssef Assaf roping in the Jordanian duo of strong man Ahmad Al Nasarara and goalkeeper Mohammad Bkirat. Dordoi have successfully attracted Brazilians Previato Giancarlo and Dan Juan as well as Ghanaian defender Daniel Tagoe with veteran Russian coach Sergei Dvoryankov expected to go flat out to reclaim the trophy, which they won in 2006 and 2007. However, they will only be allowed two foreign players come matchday. And experienced English coach David Booth at Phnom Penh Crown has Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong to count on, though central defender Odion Obadin has not made it to Tajikistan in time for the matches which begin at 4pm on Monday, when Istiklol meet Dordoi in the clash of the giants in Group A. [Details from www.the-afc.com].