ANFA trims U-22 squad; three axed

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

LALITPUR: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) today excluded three players from the 30-member squad undergoing close-camp training for the AFC Under-22 Asian Cup Group ‘D’ Qualifiers scheduled here for June 2-12.

Mega Three Star Club striker Buddha Chemjong, New Road Team (NRT) defender Prabin Sainju and Friends Club midfielder Santosh Tamang were among the axed players from the squad.

Former Under-19 national team skipper Sulav Maskey has been named as a reserve player after the Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) midfielder sustained injury during training.

The team consists of four goalkeepers, eight defenders, 10 midfielders and five forwards. Seven players have been selected from MMC, five from Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC), three from NRT, two each from Three Star and Machhindra Football Club.

Likewise, Rohit Chand, currently playing for i-league outfit HAL United and one each from Iceberg Madhyapur Youth Association (MYA), Bouddha Football Club, Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC), and Nepal Police Club (NPC) were included in the 27-member squad.

Also, three players—Deepak Bhusal, Bharat Khawas and Jagjit Shrestha — who are out of contract at the moment have been named in the squad.

Olympic teams from Uzbekistan, Yemen, Jordan and Bangladesh along with the Nepali team will participate in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

SQUAD: Goalkeepers — Bikesh Kuthu (MYA), Bishal Shrestha (MMC), Amrit Kumar Chaudhary (HSC), Dinesh Thapa Magar (Machhindra); Defenders — Rohit Chand (HAL), Sabindra Shrestha and Bikash Singh Chhetry (MMC), Rabin Shrestha (NPC), Palsang Lama (HSC), Ajit Bhandari (Bouddha), Rabi Thapa (TSC), Deepak Bhusal; Midfielders — Bishal Rai (Machhindra), Shiva Shrestha and Amir Shrestha (MMC), Rupesh KC and Ganesh Khadka (HSC), Roshan Lamichhane (NRT), Prabin Karki (JYC), Anil Ojha (TSC), Jagjit Shrestha; Forwards — Sujal Shrestha (MMC), Jangbu Sherpa (HSC), Asim Jung Karki and Sushil KC (NRT) and Bharat Khawas.