GROUP PHOTO: Football players, artists and journalists pose for a photograph at the reception. Photos by the author
GESTURE: Nepali team captain Sagar Thapa being presented a memento at the reception.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
Nepali footballers and artistes were honoured by the Nonresident Nepalese Association—National Co-ordination Committee Qatar (NRNA-NCC) at a farewell reception organised in Holiday Villa over the weekend.
The programme was chaired by NRNA-NCC President Maksud Alam.
The Nepali national football team was in Qatar to play a friendly match with Philippines that was organised by Al Ahli Club. They lost the match by three goals to zero.
The association offered wristwatches sponsored by NRNA-NCC Adviser RK Sharma to all the squad members.
Skipper Sagar Thapa said he was sad about losing to Philippines and promised they will try to do better in the upcoming South Asian Association for Federal Co-operation (Saarc) tournament.
He also thanked Chitwan Youth Society and Al Ahli Club for co-ordinating and organising the friendly match.
In his speech, All Nepal Football Association official Rabindra Joshi revealed the conditions under which the Nepalese football team plays and blamed the technical problems and lack of facilities for the team’s loss. RK Sharma said that he was willing to financially support the Nepali football team.
The programme was hosted by T N Baral and the welcome speech was delivered by Gop Sunar.
NRNA-NCC vice president T B Karki; NRNA-NCC members Umesh Adhikari and Amrit Gurung; NRNA-NCC advisers Guru Narayan Bhatt, Ramhari Ghimire; Football Coach Jack; and Nepali national team assistant coach Hari Khadka also attended the farewell. Artistes Asha Raut, Pramod Kharel and Buddhi Sagar Bashyal and assistant director with ABC TV Kiran Maratha were also present at the event.
