Nepal awaits Bangladesh in first SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament

Nepalifootball.com

Nepal will play against Bangladesh in its first SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament match tomorrow at its home venue Dasharath Stadium, Kathamndu. Nepal is in Group B of this tournament alongside Bangladesh and Srilanka.

Nepal has to finish in top two spot in order to progress to the semi-finals of the SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament. Nepal will play with Sri Lanka on Saturday. The first match between Banladesh and Sri Lanka was won by Bangladesh in a compreshensive fashion outscoring the Sri Lankans by 6-2.

As most of the teams in South Asia are on par with each other irrespective with the FIFA ranking, Nepal should be really careful playing against Bangladesh. The Bangladesh team really looks to have some promising footballers. Mohamad Mezabahuddin looks a deadly player from Bangladesh to whom Nepalese defenders must keep an eye on. He really showed his skills against Srilanka by scoring a hattrick along with providing assist to his teammate.

Sunil Shrestha, Nepalese Team Coach mentioned that the prepartion of Nepalese team has been ongoing for the past three months. He further added that Nepalese team has chances of winning the tournament citing home advantage as one of the factor. But one concern he regards as lack of match practice before the tournament.

Mrigendra Mishra assistant to Shrestha added that he is satisfied with the performance of the team in the past couple of months. In addition to that he also metnioned that the Nepalese junior team should take some morale boost from their senior counterpart who performed remarkably better in their home match against strong Jordan team in their world cup qualifiers. 

Let's hope and pray the junior National team can bring back some glory to Nepali football world. This in turn will inspire the senior national team to win something for the team as they have failed to win anything for a long time despite playing well in recent tournaments.

Bilal scores four times as Pakistan U16 demolishes team from islands in the Indian Ocean

By: Ram Gurung

Columnist: Nepalifootball.com

3rd August, 2010

Dasrath Rangasala

Muhammad Bilal not only became the second ever to score a hat trick in the SAFF U16 championships but also became the first ever to score four goals in a match. The another winger Sher Ali also netted twice as they present themselves as the title contenders. Maldives U16 were hope less through out the match. As Pakistan has completed their group games with maximum points they are set to meet the runner up of Group B which includes Nepal.

It will be the must win situation for Maldives U16 while draw will suffice the strong Indian U16 team who lost  their first group game with narrow margin to Pakistan.

Nepal U16 will face strong Bangladesh U16 tomorrow which sunk Sri Lanka U16 yesterday in 6-2 thriller.

Best of Luck for Nepal U16 team. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh one step closer to Semis of SAFF U16 cup

Ram Gurung

Columnist, Nepalifootball.com

Bangladesh U16 Captain Mezbahuddin owns a match ball

August 2, 2011

Dashrath Rangashala

Mohammed Mezbahuddin netted thrice against the Sri Lankan team within first 15 minutes. He became the first player ever to score a hat trick in a U16 SAFF cup. The first half ended 4-0. The second half also saw four goals but cancelling each other out. Bangladesh won 6-2 on the day. Bangladesh will play their final group game against Nepal on 4th of August.

Pakistan U16 surges to victory against strong Rivals India U16

August 1, 2011 Dashrath Rangashala Indian Goalkeeper's mistake cost a loss in Group A encounter. The indian Goalkeeper ball was intercepted by advancing Mohammed Sohail of Pakistan. Who then made a assist for Mansoor Khan. Mansoor Khan beat the goalkeeper and slotted into the empty net in 20th minute. No other goals were scored and match ended 1-0 in favour of Pakistan. Tomorrow's Match Maldives U16 will play Pakistan U16 tomorrow. A win or draw for the western country in SAFF will be sufficient to place a berth in Semis. While Nepal U16 will play its first match on 4th against strong side Bangladesh who will also require a draw or win to seal their place in semi final.

First Ever SAFF U-16 Kicks off today!

By: Ram Gurung

Columnist, Nepalifootball.com

First ever SAFF U-16 cup will kickoff with Pakistan U-16 facing off against India U-16 at Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu today.The tournament will run from August 1 to 10.

SAFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco addressed that these tournaments are necessary to give a good exposure to the U-16 Boys before they participate in the AFC U-16 qualification.

Nepal U-16 will face Bangladesh U-16 on 4th of August and then Sri Lanka U-16 on August 6th. It is yet to see that the U-16 would follow the heart winning performance by the senior team. Apart from the loss to Jordan in Amman, Nepalese senior team has performed magnificently under Graham Roberts. Nepal is now ranked 20th in AFC and 1st in the South Asian subcontinent. Nepalese supporters will have faith that the U-16 will follow the footsteps of the seniors.

Nepal U-16 Squad

Goalkeepers:

Birendra Chand, Brijesh Singh and Alan Neupane

Defenders: 

Sanjay Rajbahak, Aaditya Chaudhary, Bishwas Shrestha, Bibek Basnet, Anjan Lakhaju and Nabin Gurung

Midfielders:

Heman Gurung, Rungri Hang Rai, Sagar Lama, Firon Magrati, Shikharmani Kafle, Umesh Thapa, Pramal Thapamagar and Yugal Pandey

Forwards:

Rishi Thapamagar, Anil Gurung, Krishnaraj Lama, Suraj Hamal, Suman Lama and Suraj Kumar Rai.

Group A

India U16

Pakistan U16

Maldives U16

Group B

Sri Lanka U16

Bangladesh U16

Nepal U16

FIXTURES

GROUP A

August 1: India U16 - Pakistan U16

August 3: Maldives U16 - Pakistan U16

August 5: India U16 - Maldives U16

GROUP B

August 2: Sri Lanka U16 - Bangladesh U16

August 4: Nepal U16 - Bangladesh U16

August 6: Sri Lanka U16 - Nepal U16

SEMIFINALS

August 8: Semi 1 (Winner Group A - Runners-Up B)

August 8: Semi 2 (Winner Group B - Runners-Up A)

Finals

August 9: Fifth Place playoff

August 10: Third Place playoff

August 10: Final

Nepal meets Bangladesh in U-16 opener campaign

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 31: Nepal will play its first SAFF U-16 Championship Football Tournament match against Bangladesh on Thursday at Dasharath Stadium. 

Nepal has been placed in group B in the six-team contest, which has Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as other teams in the group, in the first edition of event scheduled to kick off on Monday at Dasharath Stadium. In other group match, home team will play against Sri Lanka on Saturday. 

In curtain raiser, India will play against Pakistan in the group A match on Monday. Maldives is the other team in group A. 

Top two among three teams from each group will qualify for the semifinal stage after round robin group matches. Only one match will be played on each day until group stage which ends on August 10. All matches will be placed at Dasharath Stadium. 

Squad

Nepal has finalized the names of 23-member squad for the event under the captainship of Heman Gurung. 

Goalkeepers: Birendra Chand, Brijesh Singh and Alan Neupane; Defenders: Sanjay Rajbahak, Aaditya Chaudhary, Bishwas Shrestha, Bibek Basnet, Anjan Lakhaju and Nabin Gurung; Midfielders: Heman Gurung, Rungri Hang Rai, Sagar Lama, Firon Magrati, Shikharmani Kafle, Umesh Thapa, Pramal Thapamagar and Yugal Pandey; Forwards: Rishi Thapamagar, Anil Gurung, Krishnaraj Lama, Suraj Hamal, Suman Lama and Suraj Kumar Rai. 

11th SAG Women Football: India gives a lesson

Source: The KATHMANDU POST

DHAKA, FEB 04 -

High flying Nepal were brought down to the ground by powerhouse India in women's football when they handed Nepal a 5-0 drubbing at Kamalapur Stadium on Thursday to establish themselves as the favourites for gold. The defeat ends Nepal's winning streak but the squad are still in contention for the finals should they earn at least a point in their next fixture against Pakistan on Saturday.

According to the Round Robin system in which the games are being conducted, the teams with maximum number of points play the final. Nepal in their three matches have collected six points with their two wins (against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) and one loss.

India bagged the quickest goal of the tournament scoring as early as the 30th through Tabib Devi. Sushmita Malik grabbed a hat-trick scoring on 30th, 27th and 55th minute of the game, while Laishram Naobi completed the rout three minutes from time. As the score-line suggested, Nepal were in the receiving end throughout the match, with the team unable to make even a single goalward move.

Nepal not only lost their match against India but also showed how vulnerable they can be in the defense, conceding five goals without converting. But hopes are high in the Nepali dressing home. If not a gold, the team are aiming for a silver behind India - which is considered one of the best teams in Asia -- in the event's debut at the ongoing SA Games.

Nepal coach Dhurba K.C. has tipped India to win gold. "Our players were psychologically affected today as they were intimidated by India."

Analysing today's performance, K.C. said, "Our midfielders could not find a rhythm in today's match, which allowed India to take control in the centre of the park. He also came down heavily on the defence line he once praised after they conceded goals in quick succession.

Nepal’s SAG campaign catches spark after Lanka rout

Source: The Kathmandu Post

DHAKA, FEB 03 -
A day after the football men team’s bitter loss against the Maldives, the women’s football team have compensated for it by thrashing Sri Lanka 8-0 at the Banglabandhu Stadium on Tuesday.

Today’s win means Nepal inch closer to the finals with six points, ahead of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India still remain the favourites having won all their matches. They face Nepal in their next Round Robin fixture. The top two teams play the finals.

Nepal Chief-de-mission Hari Babu Chaudhary, Nepal Olympic Committee General Secretary Jeewan Ram Shrestha and All Nepal Football Association president Ganesh Thapa all were elated with Nepal’s performance and wasted no time in congratulating the players and wishing them luck for their next big encounter.

Jamuna Gurung scored a hat-trick in today’s empathic win, hitting the back of the net on 46th, 57th and 62nd minute. The others on the mark were Anu Lama (33rd and 40th minutes), Sajana Rana (39th), Laxmi Paudel (82nd) and Ranjana Darji (83rd).

Nepal had such control of the game that their goalkeeper and the defenders remained mute spectators throughout. But contrary to what the score line suggested, Nepal struggled to find their rhythm in the first 10 minutes but once they did, they never turned back as they ended up scoring the highest number of goals in international football, both in men’s and women’s, categories in the history of Nepali football.

Nepal coach Dhurba K.C. was speechless after the win. He said that his girls made for the best outfit in the event.

“Going by today’s performance, I can count on my attacking frontline. But my defence line seems to be as strong,” said K.C.

Footballers make early exit

Source: Himalayan News Service

DHAKA: Nepal crashed out of the 11th South Asian Games football tournament with a 1-0 defeat against Maldives here at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.

The second successive loss combined with the Bangladesh's 4-0 win over Bhutan meant Nepal's hopes of repeating the 1993 success evaporated abruptly. Nepal had won the tournament here at the same venue during the sixth SAF Games.

Maldives scored the decisive goal early in the 16th minute thanks to an accidental error from Robin Shrestha. Goalkeeper Bikash Malla collected a back pass but Robin collided with the keeper and, in the process, the defender handled the ball. Referee Ali Hasan awarded the penalty, which Maldives skipper Umar Mohamad converted.

Nepal made the first threatening move in the 21st minute but the I-League Shilling Lajong FC forward Anil Gurung shot weakly into the hands of Maldives goalkeeper Faisal Mohamed. Anil then missed a sitter in the 34th minute with one-on-one situation with keeper Faisal. With nobody marking him, Anil chest-controlled a long pass but shot straight to Maldives custodian Faisal.

Maldives were close to double their tally in the 37th minute but Gasim Shamweet headed wide from close range. Anil made an acrobatic attempt on a cross from Ju Manu Rai in the first half injury time but he could not connect the ball properly.

Nepal were a better side after the break exerting contineous pressure but it was Maldives who got the chance to double their lead when Bahrain referee Ali Hasan adjudged goalie Malla to have fouled Abdul Ghani Akram inside the box.

Stunned Nepali players almost walked out of the pitch protesting the decision. The match resumed 10 minutes later only after ANFA President Ganesh Thapa forced the pressurised the players to continue. However, Malla gave Nepal the lifeline, saving captain Umar’s spot kick in the 59th minute.

Completely ignoring half-a-dozen clear cut chances, Nepal assistant coach Mrigendra Mishra blamed the poor refereeing for the reason behind their defeat. "We lost because of the referee," said Mishra.

Referee pokes Ju Manu with flag-stick

DHAKA: Assistant referee Nasser Alshatti of Kuwait almost invited an unpleasant incident when he poked hard the flag-stick to the Nepali forward Ju Manu Rai after their match against Maldives on Monday. The incident took just after match when Ju Manu approached the referee to shake hands. "He poked me hard with the flag-stick saying 'take this, it's for you', said Ju Manu. The stupid action of the referee incensed the whole Nepali camp prompting them to attack the referee. Many of the team members and officials including Ju Manu even attempted to physically assault the referee. But the local volunteers guided the referee safe away.

Nepal lose men's football to hosts

NABIN KHATIWADA

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

DHAKA, Jan 30: Nepal suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat against hosts Bangladesh in the opener of the football match during the 11th SAG here at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.

Mamun Ul Islam scored in the first half while Atiqur Rahman Meshu and substitute Mithun Chowdhury scored in the dying minutes of the match to please the home crowd. Mamun gave Bangladesh the lead early in the eighth minute capitalizing on a defensive error from Nepali defenders. Nepal´s hope of making a comeback was shattered when Meshu doubled the lead in the 88th minute. Chowdhury added the third in the injury time while the U-23 Nepali team was playing in an offensive mode.

With the defeat, Nepal´s hope of repeating the success after 16 years in the regional Games football got a blow. Nepal had won gold medal here in the same venue during the sixth SAF Games in 1993. It was the one and only gold Nepal had won in that edition of the biggest regional sporting event.

Earlier in the first match in the same Group A, Maldives beat Bhutan 1-0. Nepal will take on Maldives on Monday before taking on Bhutan on Wednesday in their next group stage match. Two teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the semifinals. Group B includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Nepal looked disorganized from the very beginning and they almost conceded the second goal in the 18th minute only for goalkeeper Bikash Malla to deny the hosts. Bikash acrobatically saved a shot from eight yards by Md Zahid Hasan Amely.

The 1984 and 1993 champions Nepal improved their game in the later part of the first half creating a few chances. Yogesh Shrestha could not meet a wonderful chance in the 27th minute when Anil fed him up in the far post. However, Shrestha reacted late and could not reach the ball. Anil also headed wide in a cross from Yogesh in the 39th minute. Nepal Police Club forward Jumanu Rai also wasted a chance in the 42nd minute.

Chetan Ghimire was replaced by Bhola Silwal after he sustained injuries in the 44th minute. Nepal failed to pile pressure in the second half despite making some attractive moves. With time running out, they were forced to play attacking football, but in the process they conceded the second goal. Unmarked Meshu headed home from a corner kick and Chowdhury sealed the emphatic win with the third goal in the injury time. Mithun scored in a one-versus-one as goalkeeper Bikash Malla moved forward from his position.

Nepal coach Yugambar Suwal said that his players could not continue the game as planned. "We also missed many opportunities," said the Nepal coach. All Nepal Football Association President Ganesh Thapa said that inexperience of playing in front of the Bangladeshi home crowd was the reason for the defeat. Apart from two gold medals, Nepal have also won two silver and as many bronze medals in the SAG.

SAG Football draw held

source: The Daily Star

Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A along with two-time champions Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan in the football event of the 11th South Asian Games to be held in Bangladesh from January 29-February 9 next year.

Group B features defending champions Pakistan, four-time champions India, last year's runners-up Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. A simple draw ceremony of the eight-team Under-23 football event was held at a city hotel yesterday where representatives from hosts Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan were present.

Bangladesh and Pakistan were kept in the first pot as hosts and defending champions while six other teams were kept in three different pots (India and Maldives in second pot, Sri Lanka and Nepal in third pot and Bhutan and Afghanistan in fourth pot) considering their standing in the latest FIFA rankings. The teams were later they split in Group A and B through lottery.

The 1999 champions Bangladesh, who were eliminated from the group stage in last SA Games in Colombo in 2006, will start their campaign by taking on Nepal on January 30 at Bangabandhu National Stadium though the meet will get underway on January 29 with the match between holders Pakistan and Sri Lanka at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

All matches of Group B will be held at MA Aziz Stadium while the semifinals and final and all Group A matches will be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

In women's football event, five teams -- hosts Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan -- will play round-robin matches and the top two teams from there will advance to the final which will be held on February 8 at BNS.

Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur will host both the women's matches in the opening day. The remaining group matches will be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium. On January 29, hosts Bangladesh will launch their campaign against Nepal while India will face Sri Lanka.

BFF's senior vice president and SA Games football committee chairman Salam Murshedy, BFF vice presidents Manzoor Hossain Malu, Shawkat Ali Khan Jahangir, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, BFF women's committee secretary Mahfuza Akter Kiron, BFF member Golam Rabanni Helal were, among others, present on the draw ceremony.

Pradip left out of SAG, too

Source: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Pradip Maharjan has been left out of the team selected for South Asian Games (SAG) football. He had also been excluded from the recently concluded SAFF Championship.

The 20-member team announced by the All Nepal Football Association on Monday includes striker Jumanu Rai, defender Sagar Thapa and custodian Bikash Malla as three over-aged members. SAG football is a U-23 event but the rules allow selection of up to three over-aged members. Raju Tamang, goalie Ritesh Thapa and Pradip, have been left out, despite being selected in the previous phase of selection.

The squad consists of 13 national players, who had played the SAFF Championship held a month back in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Along with Bikash, Kiran Chemjong is the other custodian of the team. Rohit Chand, Biraj Maharjan, Rabin Shrestha, Suman Subedi, Noor Raj Kafle and Bikash Singh Chhetri are the defenders of the squad. Nirajan Khadka, Bhola Silwal, Ranjit Shrestha, Yogesh Shrestha and Laxman Ruchal are the midfielders. Jumanu Rai, Chetan Ghimire, Santosh Sahukhala, Anil Gurung and Nirajan Malla are the strikers. Kiran, Noor Raj, Bikash Singh, Laxman, Bharat and Nirajan were not in the team for the SAFF Championship.

Yogesh Shrestha who was unable to play the British Gurkha Cup due to controversy over registration could not secure a place in the team while Deepen Shrestha has been included as only a substitute of the squad.

Similarly, Deepak Bhusal, Santosh Gurung, Pukar Gahatraj, Jeevan Sinkeman, Shiva Shrestha, Sandeep Rai and Prabin Karki have been excluded from the final list.

Pravin has been slapped with a year´s ban by ANFA after he assaulted assistant referee Madhusudan Khanal during a match against Boys Union Club on Friday in the ongoing British Gurkha Cup.

30 footballers selected for SAG

source: myrepublica

KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) named thirty footballers in the second round selection on Saturday to participate in the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) to be held from January 29 to February 9 in Dhaka. SAG´s provision allows three senior players to compete from the U-23 football team from this edition.

Six players exceeding the age group, who were called in the first round selection, have been retained in the second round as well. The senior players include national team´s captain Sagar Thapa, goalkeepers Bikash Malla and Ritesh Thapa, forward Jumanu Rai, midfielder Raju Tamang and Pradeep Maharjan. Maharjan is the star midfielder who was not included in the SAFF Championship team held earlier this month.

There are only three goalkeepers in the team after the 48 footballers of the first round were shortlisted to 30 players. As two goalkeepers exceeding the age limit were selected, the U-23 goalkeeper Rupak Shrestha could not make it through the selection in the second round. The only other goalkeeper of the age group is Kiran Chemjong. Coach Yogambar Suwal hinted that only two goalkeepers will be selected in the final round, which will include one goalkeeper from the age group.

In the defense line, Rohit Chand, Biraj Maharjan, Rabin Shrestha and players who have experience of playing in the national team like Deepak Bhusal and Bikash Singh Chhetri are selected along with Sagar. Noor Raj Kafle and Santosh Gurung are also in the defense line.

Along with Raju and Pradeep, national team´s midfielders Sandeep Rai, Nirajan Khadka, Bhola Silwal, Ranjit Shrestha and Yogesh Shrestha are picked in the selection. Likewise, Jeevan Sinkeman, Dipen Shrestha, Pukar Gahatraj, Laxman Ruchal and Shiva Shrestha, who have international experience in the age group, have also been selected in the second round.

National team´s Jumanu Rai, Anil Gurung, Santosh Sahukhala and Chetan Ghimire as well as Bharat Khawas and Nirajan Malla have been selected for the forward position.

47 selected in Round I for SAG football

source: myrepublica.com

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Forty-seven footballers, including five over-aged players, have been selected in the first round to represent Nepal´s U-23 football team in the 11th South Asian Games (SAG).

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) selected the over-aged players as three of them are allowed to participate in the SAG age group football. National team´s Captain Sagar Thapa, goalkeeper Bikash Malla, striker Jumanu Rai, midfielders Raju Tamang and Pradeep Maharajn are the over-aged players selected in the first round.

Among the selected footballers, 11 are from the national team. Biraj Maharjan, Rohit Chand, Rabin Shrestha, Sandeep Rai, Ranjit Shrestha, Yogesh Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Bhola Silwal, Anil Gurung, Santosh Shaukhala and Chetan Ghimire are from the national team.

Those who returned from South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship will join the training from Tuesday, said the SAG team coach Yogambar Suwal. Others were already under training for the last one month.

According to Suwal, the number of players will be brought down to 24 during the second round of selection next week.

The players selected for the SAG team will compete in the British Gorkha Cup Football Championship to be held from December 19 from their respective clubs.

“An excellent team will be formed this time as the players have got plenty of time for training and there are a lot of choices this time,” claimed Suwal. “The team will be strong as three over-aged players can compete this time. The team´s weakness will be covered by the senior players,” he added.

The national football team was replaced by the U-23 team since the 9th edition of the SAG while this is the first time that three over-aged players are being allowed to participate.

Nepal had won gold medal in the first and sixth edition of the regional event and managed to reach the final during the eight edition held in Kathmandu. The SAG will be held from January 29 to Febreuay 9, 2010.

First round selection

Nirajan Khadka, Sujal Shrestha, Rabi Thapa, Navin Maharjan (goalkeeper), Kovit Khadka, Suman Khadka, Sudeep Sikhakar and Ramkrishna GC of Sankata Club; Roshan Karki, Suman Subedi, Pankaj Shahi, Ramesh Katuwal, Jitendra Singh Bista, Dipen Shrestha, Yogesh Shrestha, Bhola Silwal, Chatan Ghimire and Rabin Shrestha of Nepal Police; Deepak Bhusal, Bharat Khawas, Noor Raj Kafle, Rupak Shrestha and Pukar BK of Friend´s Club; Santosh Shaukhala, Sandeep Rai, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Pravin Karki, Anil Ojha, Sanjeev Shrestha (goalkeeper) and Kiran Chemjong of Nabil Three Star Club; Biraj Maharjan, Ranjit Shrestha, Laxman Ruchal, Roshan Lamichhane and Jeevan Sinkeman of NRT; Shiva Shrestha of Manang Marshyangdi Club; Rohit Chand and Dinesh Thapa (goalkeeper) of Machhindra Club; Santosh Gurung of RCT; Amir Shrestha of APF; and Anil Gurung of Shillong Lajong.