"I was thinking to retire from international football after SAFF but to the disappointment I failed to make in the final list of 20 players," said the 29 years old who is pursuing his professional football career with Three Star Club.
"I had already informed high level ANFA officials that I shall retire from international football after SAFF. But my exit from the national team became frustrating," said Gurung who hails from Pokhara. [break]
Gurung, the first batch product of ANFA Academy, wore the national jersey after his debut against India on December 8, 2005 during the Fourth SAFF Championship.
Gurung, who has won 33 caps, played his last international match during group A qualifiers of AFC Challenge Cup at home turf against Palestine on March 6. Gurung has three international goals under his belt -- two against Bhutan and one against Afghanistan.
Gurung was the key member of the U-19 national football team that cross the group stage of AFC U-19 Qualifiers for the first time in 2003.
"It was also right age for me to retire at 29 and I was also not in the sound physical condition to play for the national team for long time. Besides this, I also had recurring knee injury though I don´t have problem now," said Gurung who left for his hometown Pokhara on Thursday.
Gurung was the last player in the national team from the first batch of ANFA Academy. "I feel proud to be the last player of the first batch in the national team but my exit from national team could have been better if I could have retired as member of team during SAFF Championship," lamented Gurung who was one among the five players to be axed from the final list of players declared for SAFF Championship to begin on Saturday at the Dasharath Stadiu. .
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