After all Rakesh creates history

KATHMANDU, Dec 20: In an unexpected turn of events, Nepali football team´s former captain Rakesh Shrestha created a record in his football career by winning 50 caps for the national team. It is a milestone achievement for Rakesh as no other Nepali player has accomplished such a feat. [break]

Rakesh felt let down, as he could not even play a full minute against Afghanistan during the last match that Nepal played in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship held recently in Dhaka. Moreover, his dream of winning 50 caps seemed remote, as he had won only 48 caps when he left Nepal to participate in the regional event. The captain´s armband, which Rakesh carried, was passed on to Sagar Thapa in the very first game played in Dhaka and he was compelled to end his career from the bench like other legendary Nepali footballers.

Although Rakesh has not yet announced his retirement from football, his age factor, injuries and Nepal not having any international match in the near future made it certain that Rakesh´s career would meet an abrupt end.

As luck would have it, Rakesh´s dream came true after the football´s governing body Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) granted an official status to the impromptu match played against Bhutan prior to the SAFF Championship. Rakesh had played the first half during the match against Bhutan, which became his 49th cap. FIFA´s ruling registered Rakesh´s match against Afghanistan as the 50th match.

Rakesh, who returned disappointed after the SAFF Championship, was delighted to hear the FIFA´s consideration of the match against Bhutan as an official match. “It is a great thing to get an opportunity to play for the national team. My happiness knows no bounds to hear that I have won 50 caps,” said Rakesh after he heard the news through myrepublica.com. “This is the most important day in my life. I will never forget this day,” he added.

“I want to play forever but time does not permit it. I will look for some opportune moment like some big tournament to end my career with,” said Rakesh.

Rakesh is the right person to be listed as Nepali football´s all-time great players. Discipline, dedication and his performance in football is unparalleled. “Rakesh is disciplined and gentle. That is how he managed to play successfully for such a long time. He is an ideal player and the new generation must learn a lot from him,” said Nepali football analyst Sanjeev Mishra.

Rakesh´s career highlights

2005 Karachi, Fourth SAFF Championship against India and Bangladesh

2007 Oman, World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Oman

2007 Kathmandu, World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Oman

2008 Cambodia, AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers against Macau and Cambodia

2008 Pokhara, Friendly against Pakistan (Two matches)

2008 Male, Fifth SAFF Championship against India, Pakistan and the Maldives

2008 Hyderabad, AFC Challenge Cup final round against Sri Lanka, Myanmar and North Korea

2009 Kathmandu, AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Palestine

2009 Kolkata, Friendly against Bhutan

2009 Dhaka, Sixth SAFF Championship against Afghanistan