Shrestha retires from int'l football

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, June 9: Former national football captain Rakesh Shrestha has taken retirement from international football. Shrestha is the first Nepali footballer to win 50 caps.

Shrestha, the libero of Nepal Police Club, played his last international match against Afghanistan in the group stage of the Sixth SAFF Championship held at Dhaka, Bangladesh five months earlier. During the SAFF he was fielded for the last two minutes to complete his 50th international match.

Shrestha, who carries the record of playing full time in 34 matches following his debut in international football, could not have a memorable exit from the national team.

Despite departing in the status of captain to Bangladesh, Shrestha got chance to play only for two minutes in the entire tournament in the last group match.

Rakesh will formally announce his retirement in the last match of the ongoing domestic league against New Road Team.

However, Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha declared that Rakesh has decided to retire from national football team following his team´s 4-0 victory against Friends Club on Wednesday.

Shrestha started his international footballing career from AFC U-17 held in Birgunj in 1997.