Nepali men´s football team qualified for the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup finishing runner-up in the qualifying round held in Kathmandu from April 7 to 11.
Nepal had defeated Afghanistan 1-0, lost to North Korea 0-1 and played a goalless draw with Sri Lanka during the qualifiers.[break]
Similarly, Nepali women´s football team had finished runner-up in the First SAFF Women´s Football Championship held in Bangladesh from December 3 to 13 in 2010.
During the championship, Nepal had defeated the Maldives 6-0, Pakistan 12-0, Afghanistan 13-0 and Bangladesh 3-0 en route to the final where it had lost 1-0 to India.
The government awarded Rs 50,000 each to the players and Rs 25,000 each to the coach and coaching staff. Minister for Youth and Sports Omsari Gharti gave away the awards.
Minister Gharti expressed delight on getting the opportunity to felicitate both the national football teams.
Likewise, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa said he was delighted to see the government taking the initiative to award players who have achieved success for the country.
Speaking at the function, National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama said sports should not be politicized.
“The attempts to politicize football halted football activities in the country for three years,” said Lama, taking strong exception to former Member Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha´s demand of re-election in ANFA and registering of Nepal Football Association five years ago.
Related story
Footballers dominate nominees’ list for Sports Award
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
