Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Cine artistes defeated political leaders in a friendly soccer match 3-0, here, today.

The match was organised by Naya Patrika daily at Halchowk based sports ground of Armed Police Force with the aim of raising fund for earthquake victims.

Top leaders, including Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN- UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, senior UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, UCPN-M Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai and UDMF leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar played on behalf of the politicians’ team.

The artistes’ team included Sunil Thapa, Shambhujit Baskota, Shiv Shrestha, Karishma Manadhar, Jharana Thapa, Priyanka Karki, Yubraj Lama, Shivhari Paudel, Rupashri Niraula, Jitu Nepal and Dipak Raj Giri.

Oli, Khanal, Nepal, Dahal, Bhattarai and Gachhadar played enthusiastically but left the ground within 10 minutes

and were replaced by younger leaders.

Seventy-five-year-old Prime Minister Koirala, who led the politicians’ team was seen being asked by younger leaders to leave the field, but he appeared to tell them that he would play on for a few minutes more.

Koirala stayed longer than other top leaders but left the soccer ground slightly before half-time.

Some members of the audience appreciated Koirala’s efforts to boost the morale of his

team. One audience member, who was expecting Koirala to abandon the field, largely due to the scorching heat, remarked, “Koirala is not leaving the ground. It seems he will also not quit the government.”

Oli played as defender, while other top leaders filled the forward positions.

As long as the top leaders played, the artistes team kept

the politicians’’ team under constant pressure, hitting the ball repeatedly near the opponents’ goalpost.

Young leaders like Gagan

Thapa, Top Bahadur Raymajhi, Barshaman Pun, Pasang Sherpa and Minendra Rijal played relatively better.

Rijal was the only leader who played almost till the end of

the match.

The team of artistes was relatively better in showing their passing skills.

Both the teams, however, missed a few goals hitting

shots that were either too high or too wide.

The politicians wore green jersey while the artists were in red.

Gachhadar, Bhattarai, UML leader Bishnu Paudel and NC leader Gagan Thapa fell while attempting to snatch the ball from opponents. Medical teams were kept on standby.

Commentator Jitu Nepal, a comedian, entertained the audience with funny jokes about fellow artistes during the match.

At one time when the comedian forgot the name of a young politician, he requested the organiser for names of politicians along with their jersey numbers.

“I am not supposed to forget the name of any politician, or else, they will strike off my name when I have the chance to serve on the Film Development Board,” he added.

Koirala said the match was important in that it demonstrated unity and solidarity.  “We have many challenges ahead and I hope that the unity and solidarity we saw today will remain intact in the days ahead,” he added.

President Ram Baran Yadav

inaugurated the friendly match by handing over the ball to

both  teams. Artistes Haribansha Acharya and Madan Krishna Shrestha jointly captained their team.