Lalitpur, November 18

Nepali national football team head coach Gyotoku Koji today said his side will play for a win against Friends of Japan in their charity match slated to be held here at the ANFA Complex on Saturday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relation between Nepal and Japan.

The AFC Solidarity Cup winning team Nepal arrived from Malaysia on Wednesday night and will play within two days. However, coach Koji was confident of winning the charity match.

“The team has some injuries to deal with but we are capable of winning the match. We are back into the country after winning a tournament and we will give our best for the spectators here in our country,” Koji said.

Skipper Anil Gurung said that the team is all set to face the opponent. “We are just back from a successful competiton and we would love to share it with a win with our people,” said Gurung.

The Japanese team is comprised of players having professional experiences in the Japanese League and other leagues around the world.

Similarly, Toda Kazuyuki, who represent Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2002 and played the English Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur in 2003, is also in the team as a coach cum player.

Meanwhile, Kazuyuki said his team is also confident of beating Nepal’s national team as well as his former coach Koji.

“I watched Nepal’s matches against Brunei and Laos and we are well prepared for the encouter. Coach Koji once coached us in my youth level but I will be giving my best to win tommorow’s match,” said Kazuyuki.

Skipper Yosuke Nozawa said playing against the team coached by Koji is very special. “I played under coach Koji when I was young and facing his team is a special moment,” said Nozawa.

Colorbath, a Japanese NGO, and All Nepal Football Association are jointly organising the charity match.