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2009 SAFF Cup Special: Know Your Opponents - Team Nepal
In this SAFF Cup Special series, Goal.com profiles each of the other seven teams in the competition. We start off by looking at Nepal...
28-Nov-2009 4:48:36 PM
FIFA
Ranking: 176
Best Result In SAFF Cup: Third Place In 1993
Result In Last SAFF Cup: Group Stages
History:
Nepal don’t have much of a name in world football but there is no shortage of passion for the beautiful game in this landlocked country. They played their first international in 1972 but have been reduced to being minnows at Asian level also. However, they are a force to reckon with in the South Asian football circuit even though they have never won the SAFF Cup. Their best performance in the tournament came in the 1993 edition when they finished third but only four countries took part in it. Two years later six teams participated and Nepal lost in the semis. Their best finish ever since was in the 1999 edition when they finished fourth. They have been knocked out in the group stages in all other editions but have always been a difficult team to play against. At Asian level their best performance till date was in the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup when they reached the last four. Their finest moments has easily been the gold medal triumphs in the 84 and 93 South Asian games. Nepal don’t have a rich footballing history but remain one of the most promising teams from the subcontinent.
Current Team:
The current group is a relatively young squad which has a lot of potential but lacks match experience. Captain Rakesh Shrestha is one of the most experienced players in the squad and is two matches away from completing 50 international caps. He is one of the better defenders of the team and the performance of their backline will depend a lot on him. Bijay Gurung and Raju Tamang are two of the most creative midfielders of the team and the task of creating chances will have to be shared largely between the two. Nepal’s biggest strength is their young forward line. The trio of Anil Gurung, Santosh Sahukhala and Jumanu Rai are very highly rated in their country especially because all them have played abroad. Sahukhala and Jumanu recently had a stint at Maldives outfit All Youth Linkage while Gurung of course plays for Shillong Lajong and has also had a trial for the Chelsea Reserves. Nepal are expected to struggle on the physical aspect but their attacking players do have pace and so they will be looking to make the most of that.
Key Player:
Anil Gurung – Anil is a very talented player who is known for his coolness in front of goal. Lajong haven’t yet seen the best of him but the 2009 SAFF Cup could be the ideal stage for him to kickstart his international career.
The Group:
Nepal are probably placed in the tougher of the two groups as the two finalists from last edition – India and Maldives- are in it other than Afghanistan. They take on holders Maldives in the first game and a defeat in that match will make it difficult for them in the last two matches to qualify for the last four. Nepal would be hoping to at least stay in the hunt for a semi final place when they take on Afghanistan in the last group game.
Verdict:
They are outsiders to go past the group stages but if they do manage to do that, then a maiden SAFF Cup crown will be a possibility. Overall they are a decent team and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Amoy Ghoshal
Best Result In SAFF Cup: Third Place In 1993
Result In Last SAFF Cup: Group Stages
History:
Nepal don’t have much of a name in world football but there is no shortage of passion for the beautiful game in this landlocked country. They played their first international in 1972 but have been reduced to being minnows at Asian level also. However, they are a force to reckon with in the South Asian football circuit even though they have never won the SAFF Cup. Their best performance in the tournament came in the 1993 edition when they finished third but only four countries took part in it. Two years later six teams participated and Nepal lost in the semis. Their best finish ever since was in the 1999 edition when they finished fourth. They have been knocked out in the group stages in all other editions but have always been a difficult team to play against. At Asian level their best performance till date was in the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup when they reached the last four. Their finest moments has easily been the gold medal triumphs in the 84 and 93 South Asian games. Nepal don’t have a rich footballing history but remain one of the most promising teams from the subcontinent.
Current Team:
The current group is a relatively young squad which has a lot of potential but lacks match experience. Captain Rakesh Shrestha is one of the most experienced players in the squad and is two matches away from completing 50 international caps. He is one of the better defenders of the team and the performance of their backline will depend a lot on him. Bijay Gurung and Raju Tamang are two of the most creative midfielders of the team and the task of creating chances will have to be shared largely between the two. Nepal’s biggest strength is their young forward line. The trio of Anil Gurung, Santosh Sahukhala and Jumanu Rai are very highly rated in their country especially because all them have played abroad. Sahukhala and Jumanu recently had a stint at Maldives outfit All Youth Linkage while Gurung of course plays for Shillong Lajong and has also had a trial for the Chelsea Reserves. Nepal are expected to struggle on the physical aspect but their attacking players do have pace and so they will be looking to make the most of that.
Key Player:
Anil Gurung – Anil is a very talented player who is known for his coolness in front of goal. Lajong haven’t yet seen the best of him but the 2009 SAFF Cup could be the ideal stage for him to kickstart his international career.
The Group:
Nepal are probably placed in the tougher of the two groups as the two finalists from last edition – India and Maldives- are in it other than Afghanistan. They take on holders Maldives in the first game and a defeat in that match will make it difficult for them in the last two matches to qualify for the last four. Nepal would be hoping to at least stay in the hunt for a semi final place when they take on Afghanistan in the last group game.
Verdict:
They are outsiders to go past the group stages but if they do manage to do that, then a maiden SAFF Cup crown will be a possibility. Overall they are a decent team and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Amoy Ghoshal
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