Young footballers promised continual training

By Purushottam Kattel

KATHMANDU, Nov 1 – When the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) postponed the ‘Asian Youth Festival of Football’ in Bangladesh, it was a big letdown to the Nepali junior footballers striving to showcase their talent at international arena. And for the football officials who had even picked a 23-member squad.

The organisers postponed the event, originally scheduled for October 25 to November 1, citing technical problems.

However, the FIFA-affiliated All Nepal Football Association’s (ANFA) decision to carry on with the training and participate in Subrato Mukherji Cup football tournament brought a welcome relief to the players.

"We will select squads for the Subrato Mukherji Cup from the same set of 23 players," said Ganesh Thapa, the president of ANFA. "The tournament will serve as a platform for the players to gain in confidence for the bigger international competitions like Youth Festival of Football."

Nepal is fielding two junior teams—Under-17 and Under-14—for the Subrato Mukherji Cup slated for November 15 to December 13 in the Indian capital New Delhi.

Thapa also said that the association has resumed the closed-camp training for the junior players.

According to him, the players are staying at the Mahendra Youth Hostel and training under coach Raju Thapa.

Giving account of the players, coach Thapa said: "The boys are improving with each passing day.

"What they need at present is some match practice," he added, "and Subrato Mukherji Cup would simply fit the bill."

Ganesh Thapa, who has all praise for improvement shown by the boys, said that ANFA junior project will equip players with technicalities of football helping them to succeed successful footballers in the future.

Meanwhile, he also expressed hopes that the long-standing ANFA dispute would be resolved by the end of November. "We are trying to solve the problem in the lines of FIFA demand," he said. "But National Sports Council should take the initiation for the problem."

Shubha Shanti cricket tourney

DANG (PR) - Valley Junior Club and Millenium Club registered wins in the opening day of the Shubha Shanti cricket Cup on Thursday, being held here by Nepal Students Association.

Valley Juniors defeated VYCC by 42 runs while Millenium Club scraped past Black Roses by 9 wickets.

In the first match of the day, Valley Juniors, batting first, scored 136 runs losing all their wickets in 24.1 overs. VYCC, with a stiff target of 137 runs in 25 overs to achieve, could only muster 94 runs in 20 overs. Ashok Roka of Valley Juniors, with a two wicket haul and 18 runs in the match, was declared the man of the match. Unlike the first match, the second match between Millenium Club and Black Roses was a low scoring one. Millenium boys did not face any difficulty negotiating the Black Roses’ bowlers to reach the 72-run target in 7.5 overs, with loss of just one wicket.