KATHMANDU, March 8: Former captain Anu Lama has been excluded from the 20-member women squad announced for upcoming SAFF Women Championship set to be held from March 12 to 22 at Shahid Stadium in Biratnagar.
Head coach Hari Khadka led the selection from the preliminary squad of 23 who were called up for closed camp in Kathmandu. Along with Lama, Sunita and Bimala Chaudhary are also dropped from the squad. All the players remained three months in the camp before the final selection on Thursday.
Nepal’s highest woman goal scorer, who has been playing for national team for long, Lama rues the fact for not being able to play a farewell international match for her country.
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“I wanted to retire in front of home crowd. But it couldn’t happen as I thought,” Lama told Republica. She recently made a triumphant return in the squad from a serious knee injury.
Lama is thinking about announcing her official retirement before the SAFF event during the official felicitation program. “ANFA has promised to felicitate the contributors to football ahead of the SAFF games. I am also included in that. I am thinking about announcing my retirement at that moment.” She further added to concentrate on alternative career.
Six U-19 national players have been included in the seniors. Rekha Poudel, Saru Limbu, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Puja Rana, Usha Nath and Anjana Rana Magar are promoted from the age-level team under the leadership of Niru Thapa. Similarly, Sabitra Bhandari remains the prolific attacker in the squad.
Nepal will host Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives for the SAFF games. Nepal has been placed with Bangladesh and Bhutan in Group A whereas rest of the teams will comprise in the Group B. The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals of the multi-national football league.
SQUAD
Goal-keeper: Anjila Tembappo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath
Defender:Hira Kumari Bhujel, Gita Rana, Poonam Jargha Magar, Amrita Jaishi, Kabita Dhimal, Puja Rana, Man Maya Limbu
Mid-fielder:Anita Basnet, Deepa Rai, Manjali Yonjan, Sharmila Thapa, Saru Limbu, Renuka Nagarkoti, Anita KC
Striker:Rekha Paudel, Niru Thapa, Sabitra Bhandari
Group A:Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Group B: Maldives, India, Sri Lanka
