KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday honoured the AFC Solidarity Cup winning Nepali football team with cash prizes amid a special programme in Kathmandu. PM Dahal handed over a cheque of Rs 300,000 to each player, of Rs 200,000 to assistant coach Raju Kaji Shakya and of Rs 50,000 each to physiotherapist Suraj Bhusal and goalkeeping coach Ujjwal Manandhar. Nepal had lifted the AFC Cup held in Malaysia from November 2 to 15 by defeating Macau in the finals. PM Dahal on the occasion thanked all players and officials for their hard work, dedication and commitment for lifting the continental prize and making the nation proud. He said the players' achievement make the nation united. Meanwhile, Nepal's national football team captain Anil Gurung expressed his gratitude to the government for honouring players and said such accolade would motivate the players to perform better in the upcoming tournaments for earning Nepal's recognition in the global arena. In a different context, PM Dahal urged the players not to get carried away with the current political transition as the government was committed for implementation of the new Constitution. On the occasion, Youth and Sports Minister Daljit Shreepaili, Sports Secretary Mahesh Prasad Dahal and National Sports Council Member-Secretary Keshav Kumar Bista were also present. The AFC Solidarity Cup was organised by the Asian Football Confederation among the teams disqualified from the first round of qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 2018 and the AFC Asian Cup 2019. READ ALSO

• Nepal win AFC Solidarity Cup