Four more footballers called in

KATHMANDU, Oct 30: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has called four more players for the close camp training of the national football team. They will join the 21-player national team which returned home shortening its ASEAN tour on Sunday.



Bijay Gurung of Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Raju Tamang of Nepal Army Club, Nirajan Malla of Armed Police Force (APF) and Jitendra Karkri of New Road Team (NRT) have been called for the close camp. Malla had already joined the team in Hotel Crown Plaza on Sunday.[break]



Tamang who is deployed in peace keeping mission of the Nepal Army in Haiti is returning home after seven months on Tuesday. "I missed football the most in these seven months and I will do my best to make a comeback in the national team," Tamang said.



The national team had left for ASEAN tour on October as part of preparation for the SAFF Championship to be held between December 1-15.  However, the ANFA leadership is not satisfied with Nepal´s performance during the tour, an ANFA official said on condition of anonymity.



"The team did not meet our expectations. Our main target was to prepare for the SAFF Championship," the ANFA official said, adding, "Coach Graham Roberts only tested the team during the tour rather than improving it. Thus there was no uniformity in the team. We have called the players so that other good players may get the chance for training and best among them would be picked for the SAFF Championship," the officials said.



Nepal had lost 4-0 to Philippines, 2-0 to Malaysia U-23 (Olympic) team and defeated Cambodia U-23 1-0.   

Related story

Footballers dominate nominees’ list for Sports Award