KATHMANDU: Former Nepali international footballer Ranjan Bista, who has represented the national team in various seven international tournaments, has pleaded help after suffering from lungs and bone cancer.

Bista is currently undergoing medication at the B & B Hospital in Satdobato. Doctors have prescribed him daily doses of medicine costing around Rs 12,000, three thousand less than his monthly paycheck he receives from the Nepal Handball Association. Bista is an employee at the NHA where he serves as a coach.

A former Boys Union Club (BUC) custodian, Bista, is also the founder of the two-time 'A' Division League champions Sunakhari Club. Bista also helped BUC claim the 'A' Division League in 1975 under the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

Bista represented Nepal in the DCM Cup (New Delhi) in 1975, Agatha Gold Cup (Dhaka) in 1979, Presidents Cup (Bangladesh) in 1979, Asian Youth Football (Bangladesh) 1980, King's Cup (Bangkok) in 1982, the ninth Asiad (Delhi) in 1982 and the Darjeeling Gold Cup in 1982.

Bista recalled his passion for the game during his youth. "My father was seriously ill when I was playing football. But I continued playing football despite my father's illness. And now, my son still joins his team while I am fighting for my life," said Bista relating the same passion of his son. His son Sameer is a member of the Nabil Three Star Club currently playing the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League.

Bista got rid of a kidney two years earlier after diagnosed with cancer. He said he had the will power to counter the disease then. "I lost one kidney then and I can still fight the disease provided some support," added Bista. However Bista is disappointed with some of the collegues who occuply the top post in ANFA.

"Some of my collegues occupy reputed posts in ANFA but none have come forward to sympathise me, let alone lend any support," laments Bista. Bista also informed he had sought assistance from the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepal Olympic Committee and National Sports Council one and half month earlier. "No one until today have responded to my pleas," said Bista.

Contrary to his expectations, various quarters of society have come forward to lend support for Bista. The locals of Jhamshikhel have raised Rs 200,000, tennis colleagues collected Rs 106,000, the Gyanendra Library handed over Rs 50,000, the Sanepa Dhungedhara Satsang Bhawan Samrakshyan Samiti gave Rs 20,000 and Indrayani Temple and its executive committee members donated Rs 10,000 for the player. Also, the Nepali PhD students in America Sailesh Tiwari and Diksya Thapa Tiwari have provided him with $120.

His friends and well wishers have set up an account in the Jawalakhel branch of Bank of Kathmandu. Individuals and organisations willing to help the player can chip at the account No 031100000080.