Two best footballers of each year from 2064 BS to 2068 were honored on Wednesday as the award ceremony was stalled since 2064 BS owing to internal problems in ANFA. [break]
Former national players Nirajan Rayamajhi and Ananta Thapa (2064 BS), Pradeep Maharjan and Nabin Neupane (2065 BS), Bijay Gurung and Anjan KC (2066 BS) and national players Ritesh Thapa and Bikash Malla (2067 BS) were honored with the best player award.
Similarly FIFA referee Buddhi Bahadur Gurung and assistant referees Shyam Lama, Kailash Shrestha and Gyanendraman Singh were also feted on the occasion.
Earlier, only one player was honored every year and this was the first time for referees to be awarded.
Each of the players and referees were awarded with a purse of Rs 100,000 and a Yamaha Alba motorbike apiece.
The award was setup in the memory of former national football team captain and FIFA referee Rupak Sharma in 2053 BS who died during a plane crash in 2049 BS in Lalitpur. Sharma was returning from Pakistan when the accident took place.
CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, National Sports Council Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama, internationally recognized Nepal Olympic Committee President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, former IGP and national football team captain Achyut Krishna Kharel and Rupak Memorial Foundation President Deep Kumar Upadhya gave away the prizes to the winners.
A selection committee coordinated by senior coach and former national coach Bhim Thapa selected the players and a committee coordinated by Surendra Sikhrakar, the president of Nepal Referee Association selected the referees.
Speaking on the occasion coordinator Thapa said that the players were selected on the basis of their performance in national team and discipline. "As the award was halted for long time it was really a difficult task to select players," Thapa said suggesting ANFA to organize the event every year.
Speaking on behalf of all the awarded players, Ananta Thapa thanked ANFA and opined that such award would inspire players to perform better in future. "The award will also inspire the young footballers to do their best," Thapa said.
Four among the awarded eight players are the product of first batch of ANFA academy. Maharjan, Gurung, KC and Malla were the first batch players who debuted in the national team on 2005 during SAFF Championship. Currently Maharjan is associated with Three Star Club, Gurung and KC are in Manang Marshyangdi Club and Malla is the player of Nepal Army Club.
Maharjan had scored five goals during AFC Challenge Cup 2006 while Gurung had scored thrice for the national team. KC has scored a lone goal. These three players are not included in the current national team.
Similarly, Rayamajhi who made debut for the national team in 2008 holds the highest scorer record of13 goals along with former national player Hari Khadka.
Rayamajhi and Neupane had jointly announced retirement from the national team two years ago. Neupane debuted in the national team in 2003. Neupane currently plays professional football from Himalayan Sherpa Club while Rayamajhi has virtually retired from football.
Ananta Thapa who belongs to Nepal Police Club had debuted in 1998. Similarly Ritesh Thapa of Nepal Police Club and Malla of Nepal Army Club are the members of the current national squad.
Similarly, Gurung is the former FIFA referee while Kailash, Gajendraman and Lama are the former FIFA assistant referees. All of them received referee batch in 1992.
Women footballers, coaches also to be awarded
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, ANFA president Ganesh Thapa said best coach and women footballers will also be awarded from next year. "We have been questioned why women footballers are not awarded. From next year we will award best women footballers as well as the best coach. And if we feel necessary we will also award other persons for their contribution to football.”
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