Following a breathtaking round of regional tournaments across eight regional zones of Afghanistan to select the top 26 players for each of the eight RAPL teams, it is now time for the inter-squad matches to finalize the 21-man squad for each team. It will be the final test for the 26 players who have already been selected for the teams to showcase their talent and make the final cut.
In 2014, Oqaban Hindukosh surprised everyone by finishing the group play in style and defeating the RAPL defending champions Shaheen Asmayee 2-1. In the semi-finals they were challenged by De Maiwand Atalan but Oqaban went right through in to the final. Since it was their first championship match, This was an exciting event for the players and fans of this team. However, Shaheen Asmayee stole the show and defeated Oqaban 3-1.
This year, Oqaban has one of its best and most loyal players, Anwar Akbari once again. They have also added 13 fresh faces in the squad and everyone in the team is so committed to grab this year's championship no matter who they face in the final game.
For players who will be participating in this tournament, this could be nothing short of a life-changing event. RAPL puts the spotlight on the players and that means more exposure and more opportunities for emerging football talents to excel in their personal and professional football lives.
In an effort to gather the nation’s top talents, the Afghanistan National Football team's coach as well as theassistant coaches has announced their commitment to evaluate players in the RAPL main event matches and invite the top tier players to the national team. The 2015 RAPL tournament is set to kick-off on August 27th and will be the biggest football event in Afghanistan.