Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, July 15:

Nirajan Malla, a product of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Academy, is leaving for Japan on Saturday for a three-week training, which starts from July 17-August 6 in different centres of Saita city. The Under-14 skipper, who scored 18 goals in the Nepal Bank Junior (U-14) league for Friends Club, will get training at Urawa Red Diamonds Academy, along with other footballers who are picked for this special training from other parts of the world.

“Nirajan was picked by a Japanese coach Ichiro Fujita, who watched his game in a friendly match before the final of the AFC President’s Cup,” said ANFA president Ganesh Thapa at a press meet today. “We hope the training will be a fruitful one,” Thapa said adding that such opportunities would encourage other players at the academy. “I am extremely delighted to play in Japan, which is one of the strongest football playing nation in Asia,” said the 14-year-old revealing that the hard work had helped him reach this height. Malla also thanked ANFA for giving him this opportunity and said that he will share his experiences with his teammates after he returns home. “We have quite a few youth who have caliber of playing in Asian level,” said Thapa adding that more players will get a chance to play in Europe in coming years. “I have been assured by AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam about sending more players abroad,” he said. He revealed that Nirajan’s tour to Bayern Munich of Germany would be finalised within a month time.