Preliminary team for WC qualifier named

Kathmandu, September 14:

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) today announced the 34-member preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifying away match against Oman slated for October 8.

The players were named from the first round selection camp conducted by senior coach Shyam Thapa and assistant coaches Upendra Man Singh and Bal Gopal Maharjan.

The squad includes four goalkeepers Bikash Malla, Surendra Shrestha, Ritesh Thapa and Sanjeev Shrestha, 12 defenders Suman Subedi, Anjan KC, Rakesh Shrestha, Ram Kumar Biswas, Lok Bandhu Gurung, Sagar Thapa, Chun Bahadur Thapa, Ramesh Sinkeman, Umesh Upreti, Nur Raj Kafle, Sandip Rai and Sanjeev Budhathoki.

Nirajan Rayamajhi, Ju Manu Rai, Yugal Kishor Rai, Santosh Sahukhala, Ganesh Lawati and Anil Gurung are the strikers. Of the 34 players, 10 are from Nabil Three Star Club, nine from New Road Team, five each from Mahendra Police Club and Tribhuvan Army Club, two from NIBL Friends Club and one each from Samsung JYC, APF and Carlsberg MMC.

Nepal will host the return leg match at the Dasharath Stadium on October 28.