Pokhara, January 30

Nepal’s U-12 football team is set to go to Japan for the Copa Toreros Football Tournament to be organised by Fun Roots Academy in March.

Former national team footballer Basanta Gauchan, who has been working in the academy as a coach for two years, will take along the 12 players for the tournament. Gauchan will bear all the costs of the tour including airfare and accommodation. He had also taken U-12 team to Japan last year. Gauchan, who hails from Pokhara, said taking children to Japan was a tough job. “Taking 12 children to Japan is challenging,” he said.

However, the academy invited Nepali players for the second time after being impressed by the skill of the children finding them skillful.

Kritan Thapa, Sangam Gurung, Sangam Gaire, Kalidas BK, Nikhil Karki, Prashant Sunar, Bikram Gautam, Nirajan Khatri, Dev Gurung, Nischal JC and Nischay Upreti are the players who will travel to Japan for the event.