YAMAHA FOOTBALL: Yamaha G5 for best five

Kathmandu, March 17:

Players are the key members of football if we take it as a family. Former players, officials, referees, coaches and journalists are the other important members of the football, without whom the sport remains incomplete.

The family can only be a successful one if all the members contribute responsibly from their parts. If they don’t, the family will be handicapped. Realising the fact, Yamaha India Motors, who have been awarding the best players of the national league for the last two years, have also decided to award the off-the-field heroes.

This year, five best individuals — goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker and coach — got Yamaha G5 each. The trend continues on Saturday, as five individuals will awarded and this time the winners will be among players, coaches, referees and administrators.

On Saturday, the national team will play a fund-raiser charity match against African United, who won the recently held Aaha Gold Cup (Pokhara) and Budha Subba Gold Cup (Dharan). After the match, the five personalities will be rewarded with a Yamaha G5 and Rs 100,000 each for their selfless contribution towards the development of football in the country.

Sunsari FA president Dilip Rai, who is regarded as a role model in the Eastern Region football, is being awarded for his decade-long contribution. Former national players, Ashok KC ad Raju Shakya — who served the national team for a long period and are renowned coaches at present — are the other two personalities to be awarded.

Former national team skipper and FIFA referee Sri Ram Ranjitkar, who is best known for the theoretical and practical knowledge in refereeing, is chosen from the referees, while Mahendra Police Club’s Rakesh Shrestha, who is known for his strong defence, is selected from the current national players.

As the awards of Yamaha G5 inspired the players to perform to their level best in the league, the awards will also encourage the officials to go one-step up and contribute to the development of football. They will also feel proud to win Yamaha G5, which recognised their contribution in football.

ANFA announced the names at a press meet at its secretariat in Satdobato today. “As a starter, we have decided to recognise five persons this time,” ANFA president Ganesh Thapa said. He also added that the annual programme would award at least two persons every year.