All credit to Rukma, if ANFA gets int’l recognition: Geeta

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: The newly appointed All Nepal Football Association Executive committee office bearers took today the oath of office at the ANFA complex at Satdobato, Lalitpur.

Chief Guest Rukma Shumsher Rana, President of Nepal Olympic Committee and Coordinator of National Sports Associations Elections Committee administered oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ANFA President Geeta Rana and other office bearers amidst a ceremony today.

Likewise Ms. Rana administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed vice presidents, treasurer, general secretary and members.

At the ceremony, NOC President said that the election for ANFA had been held in accordance the rule and regulation of the ANFA statute, formed as per the directives and suggestion of Asian Football Confederation.

"The election was participated by the representatives of 400 football clubs of 42 districts," Rana said. If FIFA and AFC continue to support Ganesh Thapa led ANFA, it would be very ridiculous, the NOC President added.

Describing that the present election was most democratic in the history of Nepalese sports, Rana said : AFC has not recognizedThapa and his ANFA till now.

Since the election was held in a fair and impartial manner, Ganesh Tahap has no reason to suspect the impartiality of the elections. He said that AFC, which has now come to know about all activities of Ganesh Thapa, would have to make agreement with us.

Nation Sports Council member Resham Gurung said that the new ANFA Committee would be able to provide able leadership.

On the occasion, ANFA President Ms. Rana said that her aim was to establish a system within the ANFA and also aim to unite the ANFA’s members, who now are riddled with dvided mentality.

Rana blamed Thapa for being individualist which has invited the present situation. She further said that if ANFA gains the internation recognition, all the credits for it would go to NOC President Rana.

The Senior Vice President Karma Tsering Sherpa said that everybody in ANFA should unite to work for th betterment of the national football.

Likewise, Vice President Mukesh Man Malla said that the government should attempt to end the present ANFA confusion and try to get international recognisation to it.

ANFA General Secretary Kumar Thapa said that the election held for ANFA executive body was historical one as it was particpated by 400 football clubs of nation. Thapa further said that everyone should unite for the development of football in the nation.

Pashupati and team win

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 4: In the Famous Grouse International Shotgun pro-am held on Tuesday, Pashupati Sharma shot 39 stable points, the best among the pros with other team members. Sanjaya Kumar of Lucknow and his team of Thomas Fisler and Tashi Lama captured second place by one point. Vijay Kumar and his team were third at 110.

Tashi Lama won an all-expense paid trip to St. Andrews for the Famous Grouse International Shotgun tournament on his best individual stableford score of 43 points.

The pro-am was sponsored by Regal Business Links, representative of Famous Grouse in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar of Mhow will start as firm favourite when he begins his quest to retain the crown in the Rs 14.4 lakh Surya Nepal Masters, which began with the Famous Grouse International Shotgun pro-am at the picturesque par-72 Gokarna Golf Club, today.

In what is certainly one of the finest fields to have ever assembled in the Mountain Kingdom of Nepal, the top-three of the four players on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour Order of Merit- leader Mukesh, No 3 Shiv Prakash and the No 4 Uttam Singh Mundy- will be seen in action during the four-day main tournament, which begins from Wednesday.

The Surya Nepal Masters, sponsored by Surya Tobacco Company, is one of the biggest sporting events in the country. This season, the sponsors have increased the prizes money from last year’s Rs 12 lakh. The winner’s Cheque will be worth Rs 2,33,280, while the runner up will be richer by Rs 1,61,280 this week.

Apart from defending champion Mukesh, Shiv Prakash and Uttam Mundy, the other star attractions will be 1995 winner Ganrav Ghei, 1999 winner Rohtas Singh, twice Mahindra Player of the Year Vijay Kumar and exciting youngsters Rahil Gangjee, Rahul Ganapathy, Sheeraz Kalra and Zal Kipgen.