NSC's 9th SAF squad depends on budget

NARAYAN UPADHYAY

Kathmandu, August 30: The National Sports Council's ultimate decision to fix the final list of its squad for the 9th South Asian Federation Games depends on the Finance Ministry's willingness to release the budget for them.

Even if NSC has finalized its number of its SAF Games squad to 220, it is still not sure how many of participants will leave for Pakistan as the ministry has not released the sum it demanded for the team's participation. If the demanded budget is slashed, we are forced to slash the number of team member from 220.

" The slashing in the number of Nepalese squad now depends on the Finance Ministry's release of budget," said NSC Member Secretary Binod Shankar Palikhe who, however, exuded his confidence that the Ministry will release the budget. NSC has to send its final list of players to SAF Game's oragnising committee by September 5.

NSC has earlier submitted a proposal of about 40.24 million rupees (20.2 million for preparation and 20.04 for participation) for the preparation and participation of Nepalese squad in the 9th SAF Games for the 235 members. But as the Ministry asked NSC to further slash the number of participants, the NSC obliged by decreasing the number to 220.

According Palikhe if the government approves the budget, 156 players, 20 coaches, 10 referees and judges, 10 journalists, 8 officials, two physicians, 5 managers, 1 accountant, 4 administration clerks and two representatives from Nepal Army and Nepal police will form the 220-member Nepalese delegation for the 9th SAF Games.

Palikhe also suggested that if the Minister for Education and Sports leads the Nepalese contingent in Pakistan, it would be better for enhancing the relationship between Nepal and Pakistan, both the members of SAARC.

If the government approves our proposal, then Nepal will have 235-member team that includes players for 14 different disciplines out of fifteen.

Palikhe further said that since the nation is passing through a difficult time and the newly installed government has to take up many tasks, NSC is ready to co-operate with government and is set to take a small squad to Pakistan.

Then Nepal had grabbed overall second position in the medal table claiming 33 gold medals. The NSC and its member sports associations currently are holding differents phase of selection games for the 9th SAF bound players.

NSC to bar defaulters from SAFG

NSC Member Secretary Palikhe has warned to those NSC officials and players to bar them from the 9th SAF Games who have failed to cleared their advances taken at different times from NSC.

"I am here to strictly implement government's decision and NSC will not release advances to defaulters who will be barred from taking part in SAF Games," Plikhe said.

Palikhe disclosed that as the organisation of 9th SAF Games is coming near, he has been receiving a lot of telephones from those who want to be one of the participants to the events.

"But I am not going to be pressurised by any and have kept my resignation ready if somebody comes to bully me for SAF journey."

Regarding the participation of journalists, he said that he has been visiting various media houses for negotiating the terms and conditions for Pakistan SAF Games.

Other Stories

• West Lindsey stamp its superiority on NFA