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| Kathmandu Monday April 08, 2002 Chaitra 26, 2058. |
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Goal
Project to kick off in Lalitpur, Rupandehi
Post Report
LALITPUR, April 7 :
Lalitpur and Rupandehi districts have been selected for the construction of football
centres in Central and Western Region respectively under the football’s world
governing body – FIFA’s ambitious programme – Goal Project, the All Nepal
Football Association (ANFA) confirmed on Sunday.
Nepal is one of 110
FIFA-affiliated countries to be allocated with the broadly based programme aimed at the
development of football from the grassroots. FIFA has allocated US$ 450,647.64 to ANFA
last November for the establishment of three football training centres in the country.
ANFA is yet to finalise the third site.
According to ANFA,
there were keen contests among various districts to get hold of the project. Lalitpur and
Bharatpur Municipality contested from the Central Region while Tansen, Pokhara and Butwal
municipality were in the fray from Western Region.
"The selection was
very impartial," said ANFA president Ganesh Thapa, while briefing a press meet.
"Our technical team gave precedence to public craze towards football in the
regions." The technical committee, which inspected the sites included vice-president
Mahesh Bista, general-secretary Lok Bahadur Shahi, member Dhirendra Pradhan and engineer
Banshi Krishna Shrestha.
For the third centre to
be built in the Eastern Development Region, there has been fierce rivalry between Sunsari
and Jhapa. ANFA vice-president Mahesh Bista while revealing Sunsari’s strong
candidature, said that at the association would come out with its final decision after
three months.
But according to Bista,
there are certain provisions that should be met before ANFA gives its verdict in favour of
Sunsari. "Sunsari will have to complete the works of embankment and other basic
infrastructure near by the proposed site," Bista said.
Kakarvitta, Dhulabari
(Mechinagar Municipality) and Anarmani VDC of Jhapa and Dharan Municipality of Sunsari
were nominated as the probable sites in the Eastern Region.
ANFA also informed that
it had sent a proposal to FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the programme
pertaining to second phase of the project. "FIFA and AFC representatives will decide
on the possible extension of their support to Nepal upon inspection of these three sites
which are expected to be complete at the beginning month of 2003," said Ganesh Thapa,
informing about ANFA’s plan to set up three more sites, equipping each of four
Development Regions with at least one football centre and two in the Central Region.
FIFA had granted Nepal
the Goal Project as early as in 2000, but due to leadership scuffle in ANFA, it suspendede
the grant. But after ANFA executive committee election of 14 November last year, it
released its fund for the project.
The tailor-made
package, besides offering the young talents access to better coaching will also cater to
footballers’ other needs. The centres will have sound infrastructure boasting all
necessary amenities – playing ground, hostel, seminar hall and easy access to local
schooling. |
