KATHMANDU, JULY 18

The All Nepal Football Association and Unilever Nepal reached an agreement to sponsor the women's national football team here today.

ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and Unilever Nepal Managing Director Amlan Mukherjee exchanged the memorandum of understanding amidst a programme. As per the agreement Unilever will provide the ANFA with Rs 2.6 million for a year.

National team skipper and goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba thanked Nepal Unilever for the sponsorship. The team won the two-match international friendly series against Bangladesh in tie-breaker after both the matches ended in draws - 1-1 and 0-0.

The national team is currently preparing for the 19th Asian Games to be held later this year in China.

ANFA President Nembang termed the agreement as new chapter in women's football.

'We are grateful to Nepal Unilever for the generous support and the agreement will help in opening new avenues in women's football,' said Nembang.

Unilever Nepal MD Mukherjee said all the stakeholders needed to work together for the overall development of women's football. 'We wanted to join hands with ANFA to develop women's football and we are hopeful that the women's team will fulfill our dreams of playing in the World Cup one day,' Mukherjee said.

'Unilever Nepal in association with ANFA, will work closely to support and promote the women's football team in all aspects. It aims to contribute to the growth and success of the team, encourage the next generation of female footballers, and continue to plan and strive to someday take Nepal to the globally renowned international platforms,' said the sponsors in a release.

Youth and Sports Minister Dig Bahadur Limbu welcomed Nepal Unilever's support for women's football. 'We accept that the government has not been able to make necessary investment in sports sector,' he said. 'I urge the corporate sector to continue the support for the development of sports,' he said.

Minister Limbu also extended his best wishes to the women's national team for the FIFA Women's World Cup. But the Nepali team has not qualified for the event to be held in Australia and New Zealand in July-August.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.