Nara Shumsher dead

KATHMANDU: Gen Nara SJB Rana, who is considered the ‘father of Nepali sports’, died at the age of 96 on Monday night. Sports lover by nature, Rana captained Jawalakhel Youth Club in 1935 and was the president of Nepal Football Association that was formed in 1937. He is also credited of establishing the renowned Mahabir Club. Several spots authorities and players, including NSC member secretary Kishor Bahadur Singh, paid tribute to Rana at the NSC premises on Tuesday. — HNS

Festival of Football

KATHMANDU: Nepal defeated Bengladesh 2-0 for its seventh straight victory in AFC U-14 Festival of Football in Islamabad on Tuesday. Nepal won all its six previous 30-minues matches and added another in today’s 60-minute game. Skipper Nirajan Malla and Ganesh Khadka scored a goal each the 28th and 60th minute. Nepal will take on Bhutan and Pakistan on Wednesday at the Jinnah Stadium. — HNS

Labone no more

LIVERPOOL: Former Everton and England defender Brian Labone has died at age 66. A passer-by found Labone collapsed in the street near his home late Monday night. Parame-dics treated the former Toffees captain but he was declared dead on arri-val at a hospital. Labone won 26 England caps and made 534 league appe-arances for Everton in a 13-year career. He won two league champions-hips and an FA Cup title. Labone, a key member of England’s 1970 World Cup squad, was booked only twice and scored two goals in his career. — AP