NRT off to Dhaka for AFC President's Cup

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, May 10: A 33-member New Road Team (NRT) football squad including 23 players left for Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday to participate in the AFC President’s Cup Group A qualifiers to be held from Wednesday.

The team headed by NRT general secretary Binay Pradhan includes eight officials and two journalists. Yogember Suwal and Diken Suwal are the coaches while club president Narendra Man Shrestha is the team manager and goalkeeper Surendra Shrestha is the captain of the squad.

NRT will play against Abahani Limited of Bangladesh on Wednesday, Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan on Friday and Hasus NTCPE of Chinese Taipei on Sunday
At the farewell function, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, who is also the president of the cup organizing committee, hinted at conducting the final rounds of the President’s Cup in Kathmandu if NRT made through to final round.

“If you succeed to qualify for the final round, I will try to hold the final round in Nepal,” Thapa said.

The first edition of the President’s Cup was held in Kathmandu in 2005. Thapa also expressed confidence that NRT would enter the second round. “NRT is a disciplined team and the management is also good. I am optimistic that it will make it to the second round.”

League winners of the third tire footballing nations of Asia take part in the President’s Cup. However, NRT got the chance to represent Nepal in the event as the first leg topper of the domestic league as it was halted for three years due to internal disputes in football.

Punishment for fixing

ANFA President Thapa has spoken for the first time regarding the rumor of match fixing. “It has been heard that there has been fixing among players. If so is the case we could conduct inquiry and the guilty could be punished for 4-5 years,” Thapa said. There has been rumor of match fixing during the last moment of the league to save team from relegation.

Squad for AFC President’s Cup

Goalkeepers: Surendra Shreshta (captain), Binod Dangol, Tulsi Baju
Defenders: Sagar Thapa, nabin Neupane, Biraj Maharjan, Umesh Uprety, Bimal Malla, Jeetan Karki, Dil Bahadur Tamang, Raju Thapamagar
Midfielders: Ranjit Shrestha, Rajesh Shahi, Jeevan Sinkeman, Roshan Lamichane, Khum Gurung, Subash Rai, laxman Ruchal, Subash Gurung, Roshan Lama
Strikers: Bijay Majhi, Nirajan Rayamajhi, Shayan Mosavi
Coaches: Yogember Suwal, Diken Suwal