According to an ANFA source, Ananta Thapa, Nabin Neupane, Ritesh Thapa and Anjan KC will be felicitated on Wednesday with the award established in the memory of former national team captain and FIFA referee Rupak Raj Sharma, who passed away in a plane crash in 1992.[break]
Meanwhile, one of the highest scorers for Nepal at the international level Nirajan Rayamajhi and Pradeep Maharjan, Surendra Tamang, Bijay Gurung and Bishad Gauchan are also the contenders for the award . However, the ANFA source claimed that Ananta Thapa, Nabin Neupane, Ritesh Thapa and Anjan KC will be awarded.
Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club player Neupane had announced retirement from international matches two years ago while Ananta Thapa (Nepal Police) and KC (Manang Marshyangdi) are also not in the current national team. Ritesh Thapa (Nepal Police) is in the current national squad.
Meanwhile, ANFA is yet to finalize how many and who else to be awarded in referees´ section.
“We have formed a committee, including senior coaches, to recommend all the names. The committee will have its last meeting on Wednesday morning to finalize the names,” said ANFA Vice President Lalit Krishna Shrestha. “Players, who contributed for the national team, maintained their discipline demonstrated extraordinary talent, will get the award,” he added.
The winners will get a motorbike and Rs 100,000 each.
Players Ramesh Budhathoki and Rajesh Shahi as well as referee Gyani Raja Shrestha had received the Rupak Memorial Award in 2063 BS.
ANFA has been rewarding footballers since 2053 BS with the award. Former Captain Raju Kaji Shakya was the first player to receive the award. Altogether 10 players had already received the award. The previous winners of the award are Umesh Pradhan (2054 BS), Mani Shah (2055 BS), Deepak Amatya (2056 BS), Dev Narayan Chaudhary (2058 BS), Bal Gopal Maharjan (2059 BS), Upendra Man Singh (2060 BS), Hari Khadka (2061 BS).
ANFA rewards a player with an apartment for its best of the best award. Former national team captain and Nepal Police player Rakesh Shrestha recently had received an appartment.
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