ANFA awards footballers

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has provided its players and coaches with Rs 15,000 each amid a programme in Kathmandu. The prize was expected to worth great in boosting up their morale in AFC Challenge Cup to be held shortly.

ANFA awarded the players for being qualified for the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup. Nepal had defeated Macau and hosts Cambodia in the qualifier.

Twenty three players and two assistant coaches - Upendra Man Singh and Bal Gopal Maharjan were awarded with cash prizes.

ANFA Veep Lalit Krishna Shrestha said this effort would motivate the players for the Championship.

ANFA also declared that the association will provide equal allowance of USD 14 per day to the players and coaches.

Meanwhile, the Nepali team is leaving for Kolkata on Monday to play two warm-up matches against East Bengal Club and Chirag Sports Club before heading AFC Challenge Cup slated to kick off from July 30 in Hyderabad.

Nepal has been drawn in Group B along with DPR Korea, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Nepal will open their campaign against Myanmar on July 31, before facing DPR Korea on August 2 and Sri Lanka on August 4.