Kathmandu, September 28:

National football team striker Ramesh Budhathoki has decided to retire from international

football.

“I played a lot for the nation and came to a decision to retire from the national team as I think my body will not allow me to continue,” said the Nepal Police Club skipper. Budhathoki came in the limelight in the club-level football in 1995 with ‘A’ Division outfit Sankata Club and was first included in the national team for the 2nd SAFF Championship in India in 1999.

Budhathoki last played for the national team in the fifth SAFF Championship in Maldives, but he was excluded from the AFC Challenge Cup final round, which is his only complaint in his decade-long international football. “I was fit, playing well and had not even thought of my exclusion from the team. I was shocked when I didn’t find my name in the squad,” said Budhathoki.

At club-level football, Budhathoki played for Sankata Club, Friends Club and Three Star Club before joining the departmental team of Nepal Police in 2000. Since joining the Nepal Police Club (then Mahendra Police Club), Budhathoki has been a key player in the team. He also led the club to the Martyrs Memorial National League victory in his first stint as the skipper two years ago.

Budhathoki also led the NPC to the third AFC President’s Cup final in 2007 and this year the team reached the semi-finals in Kyrgyzstan under his captaincy. Budhathoki has planned to continue with the club football. “I will play the national league as long as my body permits me to,” said Budhathoki, who has scored more than 50 goals in the national league.

“I have a lot of things from football apart from the name and fame with the Nepal Police Club. Now I want to serve the force and spend some time with my family,” said Budhathoki, a father of an eight-year old daughter, Monica.