Six new players called for national team to face Bhutan, Laos

KATHMANDU: Vincenzo Alberto Annesse, the new Head Coach of the Nepali national football team, has selected seven new players for the Prime Minister’s Three Nations Cup, which features Bhutan and Laos along with hosts Nepal. The tournament begins on Wednesday at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

The seven new players in the 23-member squad are goalkeeper Abhishek Baral; defenders Randeep Poudel, Padam Bhattarai, and Sanish Shrestha; midfielders Mani Kumar Lama, Sumit Shrestha; and winger Deepak Raj Singh Thakuri. Abhishek plays for Satdobato Youth Club in the ‘A’ Division league, while Sanish, Mani, and Nabin play for Nepal APF Club. Sumit is an attacking midfielder for Manang Marshyandi Club, and Deepak plays for Satdobato. Fullback Randeep of Manang Marshyangdi and FC Khumaltar’s Padam Bhattarai have also been included due to their performances in the national league.

Annesse faces the important task of building the team, as several key players have migrated to foreign countries for education and better opportunities. Experienced defenders Ananta Tamang, Bikash Khawas, Nishan Khadka, and Aditya Chaudhary have been included alongside Sanish and Padam in the defense. Regular goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu has also been called up for the national squad, while goalkeepers Bishal Shrestha and Bikesh Kuthu have been left out.

Rohit Chand and Pujan Uparkoti will join Mani in the central midfield, and Nabin Lama, Kamal Thapa, and Bharat Khabas have been included as attacking midfielders. Bharat, the captain of Tribhuvan Army Club, returns to the national side after a long gap. Deepak and Sumit will join Ashish Chaudhary, Ayush Ghalan, Nawayug Shrestha, Manish Dangi, and Anjan Bista to lead Nepal’s attacking lineup. Deepak has already scored four goals in the league, while Sumit has two.

Nepal is playing its first game against Laos on Wednesday and against Bhutan on coming Tuesday. Similarly, Laos and Bhutan will meet each other on Saturday, while the final has been scheduled for next Friday.

Nepal Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu (Punjab FC), Deep Karki (Manang Marsyangdi Club), Abhishek Baral (Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club)

Defenders: Sanish Shrestha (APF Football Club), Bikash Khawas (Tribhuvan Army Football Club), Ananta Tamang (Church Boys United), Padam Bhattarai (FC Khumaltar), Aditya Chaudhary (Jawalakhel Youth Club), Nishant Khadka (Sankata Club)

Midfielders: Pujan Uperkoti (Machhindra Football Club), Arik Bista (Church Boys United), Nabin Lama (APF Football Club), Rohit Chand (Persik Kediri), Kamal Thapa (Manang Marsyangdi Club), Mani Kumar Lama (APF Football Club), Bharat Khawas (Tribhuvan Army Football Club)

Forwards: Ayush Ghalan (Sankata Club), Nawayug Shrestha (Tribhuvan Army Football Club), Dipak Singh Thakuri (Satdobato Youth Club), Anjan Bista (Church Boys United), Aashish Chaudhary (Church Boys United), Sumit Shrestha (Manang Marsyangdi Club), Manish Dangi (Sankata Club)