Hands over Rs 200,000 each to U-19 players and Rs 50,000 apiece to U-16 team members

LALITPUR: The All Nepal Football Association today felicitated the youth footballers for their outstanding performance in the first SAFF U-19 Championship and AFC U-16 Qualifiers.

ANFA President Ganesh Thapa handed over Rs 200,000 each to the 23 players, three coaches and a physio of the team that won the first SAFF U-19 Championship on home soil ending the 22-year title drought for the country. Nepal defeated India 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final of the championship to claim the first major trophy in age-level tournaments.

Nepal remained unbeaten in the tournament after they recorded a 3-1 victory over Bhutan and defeated the Maldives 2-1 in group stage. Nepal registered a 3-2 win over Afghanistan in the semi-finals before beating India in the final.

The U-19 squad included Sojit Gurung, Roman Rasaili, Devraj Limbu, Ananta Tamang, Amit Tamang, Tchiring Gurung, Aakash Thapa, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Sudan Thapa, Gaurav Budhathoki, Hemant Thapa Magar, Kamal Shrestha, Dona Thapa, Tej Tamang, Kiran Sunar, Bishwas Shrestha, Shusan Lama, Sunil Bal, Bimal Gharti Magar, Anjan Bista, Sujit Gurung, Shiva Subedi, and Janom Man Ligal. Bal Gopal Maharjan was the head coach, while Sunil Shrestha and Mrigendra Mishra were the assistant coaches. Team manager Diwakar Ghale received gift hamper.

Likewise, Thapa gave away Rs 50,000 each to 23 players, two coaches and a physio of the team that qualified for the AFC U-16 Championship Finals. Nepal earned the tickets to India as the fourth best runners-up after finishing second in the group behind Oman in Kyrgyzstan. Nepal had defeated Jordan 2-1 before completing a remarkable come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Kyrgyzstan.

Aashish KC, Abhishek Rijal, Abishek Verma, Anil Maharjan, Anosh Magar, Arpan Karki, Ashok Thapa, Asim Bhusal, Dinesh Henjan, Jaya Gurung, Kshitiz Raj GT, Laxman Pariyar, Manish Bahadur Karki, Pawan Karki, Prezen Tamang, Rajesh Pariyar, Rajiv Lopchan, Rejin Subba, Roman Limbu, Sandesh Gurung, Sesehang Angdembe, Suman Aryal, and Ujwal Limbu were the U-16 team members. Upendra Man Singh was the coach, while Rajesh Manandhar was his deputy. Team manager Madhu Sudan Upadhyay and media officer Binod Prasad Pandey were honoured with gift hampers.

ANFA President Thapa said the results were the outcome of hard works of players, coaches and officials plus the investment of the association. “It is indeed a very proud moment at a time when football was not getting positive results for a long time,” said Thapa. “We had not been able to lift the trophy despite being technically strong in previous years.

But these two youth teams and senior team’s draw against India in a friendly match have sent a message that we are no longer weak in football,” added Thapa, who is also a Member of Parliament.

Thapa also lauded the contribution of late Lalit Krishna Shrestha -- the former ANFA Academy chief who was electrocuted at his residence in May -- in nurturing the youth footballers. “We all are happy with the performance of the youth teams but he would have been the most happiest person among all of us,” said Thapa. “I am happy that the U-19 team dedicated the title to him,” he added. Apologising to the mistake of not honouring the women’s national team on time, Thapa said a separate programme would be organised to felicitate the SAFF Women’s Championship runners-up team at the earliest.

Thapa also congratulated U-19 coach Bal Gopal Maharjan for being appointed as a coach at the National Sports Council. “This is the first time the NSC appointed a football coach at the governing body directly,” he said. The NSC had taken special decision to appoint Maharjan after the former national team player guided the team to victory in the SAFF U-19 Championship.