Former national football team skippers Gurung, Maharjan to lead Nepali sides
Kathmandu, December 22
Spanish second division football team, Club Polideportivo Cacereno will play two friendly matches with Nepali teams in Pokhara and Kathmandu later this month.
The visiting team - founded in 1919 and plays professional football in Segunda Division RFEF, Group 4 in Spain - will face Gandaki-XI led by former national team skipper Anil Gurung at the Pokhara Stadium on December 28. The Spanish team will then play against Kathmandu-XI, led by former national team skipper Biraj Maharjan at the Dasharath Stadium the following day.
According to Lumbini Garden Foundation Nepal, the organisers of the matches, the Spanish team includes a couple of big names including 1994 Spain World Cup squad member Julio Salinas and 2008 Euro Cup winner Ruben De La Red. "Former and current players of Spanish clubs Barcelona, Rea Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Getafe are in the team and we believe the friendly matches will be exciting for both the teams," said Ekraj Giri, President of Lumbini Garden Foundation Nepal.
Gandaki-XI skipper Gurung said he and his teammates were delighted to know about the Spanish team's visit to Nepal.
"It is an opportunity for our players to play with legendary figures of world football and such matches are pleasure for fans," said Gurung.
He also lauded Gandaki government for generous support for the match in Pokhara.
Kathmandu-XI skipper Biraj Maharjan said the matches would be a good exposure for Nepali players.
"I am grateful to the organisers for having in on board and Nepali players needed such matches for exposure," he said. "We are looking forward for a wonderful match in Kathmandu," he said.
Kathmandu-XI coach thanked the Lumbini Garden Foundation for bringing in Spanish team to Nepal. "We have been a kind of far from football for almost a year. It's an opportunity for our players to play matches against a nation which has already won World Cup," said KC. "Although we got less time for preparation and the team was also formed by assembling available players, we will put in our best efforts to put up a good show," he added.
Lumbini Garden Foundation Spain Vice-president Govinda Subedi said the Spanish team's tour to Nepal was a first step in their bid to establish friendship between the two football associations. "We can take it to next level in the days to come as we are trying to establish link between football associations of Nepal and Spain," he said. "And we are trying to link peace and tourism with football."
A version of this article appears in the print on December 23, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
