Kathmandu, April 12

Girish Maskey and Anmesh Rayamajhi have been selected to represent Nepal in the Football for Friendship (F4F) Social Programme to be held in June in Russia.

The 12-year-old kids will participate in the F4F programme, supported by Gazprom and FIFA which aims at developing youth football and a healthy lifestyle as well as promoting tolerance, open-mindedness and respect of different cultures and nationalities between children from across the globe, informed All Nepal Football Association in a release.

Nepal is making its debut in the programme and will participate alongside 210 other countries and regions.

Maskey will join young footballers from around the world in Moscow and he will be a part of the 32 International Teams of Friendship. The teams will play against each other in the Gazprom Football For Friendship International Championship.

Rayamajhi will act as young journalist and report on all the local and global activities of the F4F programme as part of the International Children’s Press Centre.

She will also spread awareness on the nine values — friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour — of the F4F programme.

Maskey and Rayamajhi will also participate in the Sixth Football for Friendship International Children’s Forum in Russia, which will allow youngsters to meet their peers from other countries, share their experiences, and discuss with famous footballers and journalists.

The participating children will also watch the opening ceremony and the inaugural match of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

ANFA Deputy General Secretary Sanjib Mishra said: “The selection of the young ambassadors from Nepal is an extension of our support to this unique global initiative. The programme is a wonderful opportunity for the ambassadors to build ties of friendship among children from around the world and foster peace and harmony through the beautiful game of football.”