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ANFA offers sacrifices for SAFF success

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KATHMANDU, Aug 24: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Saturday performed ´sankalpa puja´ and offered ´panchabali´ at the Dasharath Stadium wishing for the success of the Nepali football team in the Eighth SAFF Championship, which begins Saturday in Kathmandu.



As per Hindu tradition, a worshipper needs to fulfill the promise he\he makes during the sankalpa puja if his wish is fulfilled.

Similarly, a sheep, goat, duck, hen and an egg were sacrificed during the panchabali on Saturday.



The title of SAFF Championship has been an elusive dream for Nepal as the national football team has never made it to the final. The first SAFF Championship was held in Kathmandu in 1997. The best result Nepal has so far achieved in the event was during the 1999 and 2011 editions of SAFF. On both the occasions, Nepal had made it to the semifinals. [break]



The event is being held after 16 years in Nepal, hence the prayer was offered wishing for the success of the home team, said an ANFA source, who did not want to be named.



Panchabali was offered late in the evening while sankalpa puja was performed earlier in the day. ANFA President Ganesh Thapa and Vice-president Mahesh Bista attended the sankalpa puja.



National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama, nominated to the post under UCPN (Maoist) quota, also joined Thapa and Bista for the puja.

The sankalpa puja started at 2 pm, and after its completion the panchabali was performed.


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