"Today was my last match as the in-charge of the Nepali national team," Roberts read from his statement of resignation during Monday´s post-match conference, adding, "Being head coach of this great nation has been quite a pleasure and privilege. I am thankful to all including the ANFA president and officials for giving me this chance." [break]
As a former England international, Roberts holds the highest profile among any coach appointed in Nepali football so far. Though the initial phase of the 52-year-old´s coaching career here was marked by success he failed to live up to expectations in the later stages.
Nepal played 17 international matches under Roberts´ tenure and won six, played draw in four and lost seven matches, including all three last matches.
Photo: Dipesh Shrestha
"I would like to thank Nepali supporters whom I rank the best in the world for their support in good times and bad times," Roberts said, "Nepali team moved to top ranking last year among South Asian countries and, don´t forgot, it is still the No. 1 team in South Asia. So everyone should be proud of the team. I enjoyed every moment and I wish Nepal all success in future."
ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, talking to Republica on the phone, termed Roberts´ tenure in Nepal a mixed one on the basis of results. "We are satisfied with Roberts and got mixed results during his tenure. His hard work and dedication toward the team was praiseworthy," Thapa said adding that ANFA was open regarding the possibility of his coming back in future. He also thanked Roberts for his contribution to Nepali football.
However, during Nepal´s match against the Maldives on Saturday, a player were substituted against Roberts´ wish and he bitterly tried to walk out of the players´ box. According to sources, the replacement was made on Thapa´s instructions.
Roberts, a former captain of Tottenham Hotspurs and a key player of Chelsea, was appointed head coach of the Nepali football team in February last year for two months -- for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. He guided the team towards the final round of the Challenge Cup as runner up of group D, finishing behind DPR Korea. His term was later extended until the Challenge Cup finals. This was the second time that Nepal secured a berth to the next stage after going through the qualifying round.
Photo: Dipesh Shrestha
Similarly, Nepal for the first time advanced into the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers, beating East Timor 1-0 in the first leg and 5-0 in the second leg, both of them at home in June last year.
However, in the second round, Nepal met a miserable fate, going down 9-0 to mighty Jordan in an away match. Nepal valiantly earned a 1-1 draw during the second match, at home.
Expectations of Roberts were high during the SAFF Championship football tournament of eight South Asian countries. Though Roberts guided the team to the semifinal of the regional football fiesta for the first time after 1999, Nepal had crashed out at the hands of Afghanistan in extra time some three months earlier.
Nepal´s worst results came in the current event, the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup underway in Kathmandu. Nepal lost all three group-stage matches, remaining goalless and pointsless. Nepal lost 2-0 against Palestine, 1-0 against Maldives and 3-0 against Turkmenistan.
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