KATHMANDU: A nine-member U17 football team from Nepal is set to take part in the Street Child World Cup 2018, an event that is to be held before the FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia next year. This is Nepal’s first participation in the event.

Shelter Ashraya Nepal, an organisation working for street children, is leading this initiation. The team was selected through a national league which was organised in coordination with the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). Teams from organisations working with street children all over the Nepal were invited to take part in the league from which 26 best players were chosen. The players were put through a month of training camp before choosing the final players who will represent Nepal.

“We want to eliminate the negative image that people have of street children,” says Khusbu Oli, President at Shelter Ashraya Nepal. “As we have been working to provide underprivileged children education, rehabilitation and legal identity, our main goal is to work for their betterment. This initiation is the mirror of the same vision.”