Kathmandu, November 7

Former Nepali football player and women’s national team head coach Kumar Thapa has been selected to take part in the UEFA MIP–II, Executive Master for International Players, course.

The course is jointly run by University of Limoges, France-Centre De Droit D’economic Du Sports and Birkbech, University of London. The two-year course will be conducted in seven countries — Switzerland, France, England, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and the USA.

The course will start this month and end on November 14 in 2019, while the exam will be conducted on May 31 in 2019 during the European Champions League final. Thapa is scheduled to leave for Germany on November 10.

A total of 25 participants, including 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2000 Euro Cup winner French footballer Youri Djorkaeff, will take part in the course and Thapa is a lone participant selected from the Asian continent.

“This is a moment of pride for being the only participant from Asia as it is hard to get the opportunity for such course from AFC. I got the opportunity due to my involvement in football and want to thank Nepali football,” said the former Manang Marshyangdi Club skipper.

Thapa also informed that he got the scholarship of 27,000 euros for the course but he needed to manage costs for accommodation and travel on his own. “I have requested the sports ministry, National Sports Council, All Nepal Football Association and corporate houses for financial support,” said the Nepal APF officer.

Football analyst Nabin Pande said Thapa’s achievement was a big opportunity for Nepal and it could be an eye opener for ANFA and the South Asian region. Pande also said his team would bear air expenses for Thapa.

Nepal Sports Journalists Forum President Mahesh Acharya said Thapa’s achievement was a matter of pride for sports fraternity. “Thapa was the best holding midfielder in his playing time and he has also proved his caliber in the women’s national team. We hope he will excel in the course as well. Nepali football can take a lot of benefit from Thapa, especially after the completion of the course,” he added.