Kathmandu, November 25

The national football team skipper Sujal Shrestha expressed happiness for getting an opportunity to return to Dasharath Stadium.

“We were not able to play or train at the Dasharath Stadium for a long time and coming here after the gap of more than four and half years is just awesome,” said Shrestha, the captain of the U-23 team that will compete in the 13th South Asian Games slated for December 1-10. The stadium was damaged by the 2015 earthquake and is under construction till date. The venue is scheduled to host opening and closing ceremonies apart from men’s football tournament.

Following the withdrawal of India, the field has been reduced to five teams and the All Nepal Football Association will have to release new fixture. The draw ceremony was held on Friday and Nepal were pitted in Group A alongside Bangladesh and Bhutan, while India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were placed in Group B.

Skipper Shrestha said all the participating teams were strong and that he preferred to play against India in the tournament. “We are not going to single out any particular side as all the sides are of equal standard. Personally, I wanted to compete against India and defeat them on our way to defending the title,” said Shrestha. Nepal had beaten India 2-1 in the final of the previous edition of the SA Games in Guwahati three years ago.

Shrestha said playing in front of home crowd was both challenge and opportunity. “Nepal are always title contender in South Asia and we are capable of winning the title. As far as playing on home soil in front of the vocal crowd is always an opportunity for us although it comes along with a little bit of pressure,” he said.

Coach Bal Gopal Maharjan, who was also happy to conduct the training session at the Dasharath Stadium, said the team was well prepared for the tournament. “It is always nice to train at Dasharath Stadium and I saw different confidence in boys while entering the stadium,” said Maharjan, the former national team midfielder. “The boys are undergoing regular training and they are excited for the tournament.”

Meanwhile, the All Nepal Football Association decided not to include the players who were suspended for night club fiasco. The ANFA had taken disciplinary action on striker Bimal Gharti Magar, midfielders Anjan Bista and Santosh Tamang and defender Dinesh Rajbanshi and stopped them from travelling to Bhutan for the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers match against Kuwait.

Out of the four national team footballers, three — Gharti Magar, Bista and Rajbanshi — were in the SA Games squad but the ANFA refused to allow them to play in the regional tournament. The team management has replaced them with Rajib Lopchan, Prejen Tamang and Rajesh Pariyar. Coach Maharjan said the new players were also the part of the squad and they had already gelled up with other teammates. “Incidents happen in football and I would like to call that an accident. Sometimes a key player from starting lineup gets sick and the team will have to do without him. The three players who have come in as replacements are also good ones and it is an opportunity for them,” said Maharjan.

NSC, IME ink deal

The National Sports Council and IME General Insurance signed the agreement to insure foreign athletes and delegates during the SA Games. NSC Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal and IME General Insurance CEO Yugesh Bhakta Bade Shrestha signed the memorandum of understanding today.

As per the deal, 7,500 players, officials and other delegates from six nations will get the accident insurance of Rs 500,000 each. The NSC has already bought insurance policies for Nepali contingent.

Lamichhane ruled out

National cricket team member Sandeep Lamichhane will miss the cricket tournament under SA Games after the star legspinner underwent eye surgery at the Tilganga Eye Hospital today. According to his manager, Raman Shiwakoti Lamichhane had laser surgery on both eyes and that doctors had advised a rest of 15 to 21 days. “He had minor problems in long-distance sight and doctors had recommended spectacles some three months ago. As the glasses were not handy during matches, we decided to raise the power through laser surgery,” said Shiwakoti.

A total of five teams — national teams of Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan and U-23 sides from Test-playing countries Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — will take part in the Twenty20 tournament slated for December 3-10 at the TU Stadium.

Nepal will open the campaign with a match against Sri Lanka U-23 on December 3, before facing Bhutan two days later. Nepal will take on Maldives on December 6 and wrap up the league campaign with a match against Bangladesh U-23 side on December 7. Top two teams will make it final, while the next two will fight for bronze medal.