Lalitpur, January 24:

Subas Nembang, speaker of the House of Representatives (interim legislature), inaugurated the Rupak Memorial Foundation (RMF) building at Satdobato today. Nembang also unveiled the statutes of former national football team captain and FIFA referee late Rupak Raj Sharma along with referees Roshan Kumar Shrestha, Shyam Shrestha and linesman Hira Ratna Bajracharya.

The programme was organised to mark the 53rd birth anniversary of Rupak Raj, who along with Roshan and Bajracharya, died in a airplane crash on September 28, 1992. Shyam Shrestha had died in another airplane crash two months earlier.

The programme was part of the week-long event organised by the RMF. Playwright Ashesh Malla was also honoured with the Rupak Art Award during the programme. Paintings, commemorating the late Sharma, was also on display at the newly inaugurated RMF building. Winners of the school-level Friendship Global Writing Competition were also awarded at the programme.

RMF president Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, vice-president and widow of Rupak Raj Sharma, Neeta Sharma and All Nepal Football Association president Ganesh Thapa were also present at the programme.

Friendly football match today

KATHMANDU: The Rupak Memorial Foundation is organising the Rupak Memorial Friendly Football match at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday. Former national players take to the field in the match. Achyut Krishna Kharel will lead the ‘Red’ while Komal Pandey will captain the ‘Blue’ team. — HNS