Pradhan was given Rs 500,000 and a letter of appreciation at the ANFA complex in Satdobato. Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) Chairman and member of Constituent Assembly Kamal Thapa, also the former President of ANFA, handed the award to Pradhan.
In the first edition of the award, ANFA had honored two football veterans and former national players Krishna Thapa and Lok Bahadur Shahi with Rs 250,000 each.
Pradhan, who made his club debut from Mahendra Police Club in 1975 and played for the national team for the first time in 1979, said he was highly thankful to ANFA for acknowledging his contribution in Nepali football.
"I feel like I have found a meaning in my life after receiving this prestigious award, established in recognition of larger-than-life person like Shah. My dedication and relentless hard work bore fruit today," he said.
"I have already served Nepali football for more than 41 years. And I will continue to do so as long as I can. I have struggled a lot in this process in different roles, as a player, coach and now as an administrator. I don't know how to thank ANFA for this award in recognition."
Pradhan played for eight different clubs and represented Nepal in more than 30 international matches, including 23rd Asian Youth Football Championship (1982), Ninth Asian Games (1982), World Cup pre-Qualifying matches (1985), Asian Club Championship (1985) and 10th South Asian Games, during his decade career in Nepali football.
"These kinds of awards motivate us to contribute for the development of Nepali football," concluded Pradhan, who is also the vice-president of Nepal Olympic Committee.
The award was founded in the honor of former National Sports Council Member Secretary Sarad Chandra Shah, who played an immense role in changing the Nepali sports scene.
Apart from having a noteworthy career at different government ministries, leading different sports associations and being a respected member of international sports associations, Shah was member secretary at the National Sports Council (NSC) between 1977 and 1988.
After being appointed as the fourth member secretary of NSC, Shah is credited with laying the actual foundation of Nepali sports--spurring infrastructural development, professionalism in sports by establishing associations, and adopting international Olympics modules in the domestic sports scene.
The construction of Dasharath Stadium was accomplished during his tenure.
RPP-Nepal Chairman Thapa highlighted the contributions of the late Shah in the development of Nepali sports. "Shah was a dynamic person. He was not only an able administrator but also a capable leader with vision."
"Shah was a multi-talented and immensely influential personality. Nepali sports will forever be indebted for his contribution," said ANFA acting President Lalit Krishna Shrestha.
Shah was a recipient of numerous national and international awards, including SAARC Service Medal, Trishakti Patta and Kuwait Olympic Committee Medal.
Speaking at the program, the daughter of late Shah, Nihita, thanked ANFA for founding the award in honor of her father.
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