Polish coaches arrive in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Polish nationals Jack Stefandwski and Richard Orlokiski arrived in Kathmandu on Monday as the head coach and assistant coach respectively of the Nepali national football team.

This is the first time that 37-year-old Stefandwski, who worked as former assistant coach of Puerto Rico Island for six months, has been assigned the role of head coach of a national team. [break]Orlokiski, 54, is the assistant coach of Stefandwski. This is the first assignment for the two in South Asia.

"I am grateful for the opportunity I have got in Nepal. I look forward to bringing success in upcoming competitions," said Stefandwski upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to ANFA Vice-president and Spokesperson Lalit Krishna Shrestha, the duo has been appointed for a period of one year. The head coach will be paid $ 8,000 per month as salary while the assistant coach will be given $ 3,000 per month.

"Plus One, the national team´s sponsor, will pay the full salary of the assistant coach and half of the salary of the head coach. The remaining amount will be paid by the All Nepal Football Association," stated Shrestha. The arrival of a foreign coach is a part of the agreement between ANFA and Plus One, a US-based sports kit manufacturer.

Newly appointed coach of National Football Team Jack Stefandwski (left) and assistant coach Richard Orlokiski at Tribhuwan International Airport. (Photo: Bikash Karki)

Stefandwski is a UEFA A License holder of 2012 and has a coaching experience of 15 years. He has played for Long Island Rough Riders, the fourth tier of American Soccer Pyramid.

In 2010, Stefanowski eliminated reigning MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the CONCACAF Champions League. Since then he has taken charge of various teams.

Aim to make Nepal No 1 team in South Asia

The Polish duo has said they aim to make Nepal the best team in South Asia. "We have watched videos of Nepal´s performance. Nepal plays beautiful football and keeps ball possession. But it does not have good finishing," said assistant coach Orlokiski who had watched the videos of Nepal´s match against Pakistan and Palestine.

"We will try to make Nepal the best team in South Asia and improve the team´s ranking," said Stefandwski.

Stating that Nepal was not weaker than any teams of South Asia, assistant coach Orlokiski said, "Nepal has lost matches only by small margins like 1-0 and 2-1 against South Asian countries."

Coach Jack Stefandwski (left) and assistant coach Richard Orlokiski (Photo: Bikash Karki)

Orlokiski stressed on the need for good strikers. "We will evaluate the players in the league. We will look for a forward whom we could trust. We will watch the players in the league and prepare for the friendly match against Pakistan to be held in near future." Nepal is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Pakistan in Kathmandu on December 6 and 9.

Hinting at the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers to be held in March and the SAFF Championship in September, Stefandwski said, "We look forward to bringing success in competitions to be held in March and September."