KATHMANDU, Aug 8: A five-day long FIFA/MA Goalkeeping Course kicked off on Sunday at Godavari, Lalitpur, for the first time in the country. The course organized by All Nepal Football Association under the aegis of FIFA, the world football governing body, saw participation of 27 trainees from across the country. FIFA/AFC Goalkeeping Instructor Amur Al Bartamani from Oman is conducting the course.

The inauguration ceremony of the course also saw ANFA Acting President Narendra Shrestha and Vice President Karma Tsering Shrepa share same forum for the first time since the latter was reinstated following FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) directives on June 1. Sherpa, who headed the rebel faction of ANFA was reinstated eight months after his suspension by the establishment faction under President Ganesh Thapa.

Thapa is currently serving a 10-year ban imposed by FIFA on September 28 last year.  

Shrestha thanked FIFA for awarding the course. “This is the first time we are holding such kind of course and I believe that all the participants will make the best out of it. We are doing everything from our part to organize such courses so that our technical manpower will be qualified enough to groom our players,” he said.

FIFA/AFC Instructor Al Bartamani said, “Asian countries are on par with the rest of the world, but the reason we have not been able to achieve success like them is because of commitment. We need tremendous hard work to achieve results.”