Nepal's youth team claimed the first international title in football since 1993 when the Nepali national football team had won gold during the Sixth South Asian Games held in Bangladesh.
On Saturday, Nepal's U-19 team beat India 5-4 in penalty shoot-out to claim the title after both the teams played a 1-1 draw in the regular 90 minutes in the final.
Nepal took the lead in front of the rapturous home crowd with Tej Gurung's goal in the 31st minute. The home team was just minutes away from victory but the visiting team's Shahbaaz silenced the spectators with an 87th minute leveler. He scored a spot-kick in the dying minutes to push the game to tie-breaker.
The day belonged to Nepali goalkeeper Sojit Gurung, who foiled India's Moinudding in the very first penalty shot. The first save by Sojit turned out to be the foundation for Nepal's victory as Nepal scored five goals and India finished with four goals.
The shoot-out was tied on 4-4, with India having used all five shots when Nepali defender Ananta Tamang geared up for the final shot that was to decide a historic victory for Nepal.
Ananta did not make any mistake with a cool finish to the right side of the post that brought the home crowd to their feet.
The victory was not just a milestone for Nepal but a personal record for Coach Maharjan, who became the first Nepali to win football titles as a player and as a coach.
Maharjan was in the Nepali team that ousted India 4-3 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in the final of the Sixth SAG in Bangladesh.
"Winning trophies as a player and a coach is the happiest moment in my life and I am on cloud nine for the achievement," said Maharjan, who spent 15 years in football his football career, including 13 years as a player for Nepali national team.
"Discipline is the most important lesson for a player and I taught the same thing to my players," added coach Maharjan, who retired in 2005 as a player from the national team and started his coaching career in 2006.
Maharjan, who played for almost all of the Nepali football clubs as well as in Indian and Bangladeshi clubs, attended several coaching courses organized by the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to hone his coaching skills and that finally paid off.
Maharjan has been looking after the youth team for the last four years. All of the age-group teams fall under his supervision.
Maharjan justified his long-term appointment as a coach saying,"Coaches should not be given the responsibilities for either three months, four months or six months. They should be given long-term responsibilities without any interference and with adequate facilities. The success from such approach is evident from today's (Saturday) victory," opined Maharjan, who dedicated the trophy to the family members of those who lost their lives during the devastating earthquake of April 25.
Coach Maharjan further added that the victory will inspire other youth teams, including the U-14 team as well as the national team.
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