However, Nepali defender Rabin Shrestha won the hearts of thousands of Nepali fans in this singular match.
Shrestha is lean and thin in physical appearance but rock solid as a left back. Shrestha, who plays for Nepal Police Club in the domestic league, was adjudged the best Nepali player in the SAFF Championship for his solid defense.[break]
Meanwhile, his skills of going on overlap and producing stellar crosses and passes often amused the opponents. When Jumanu Rai scored a goal in Nepal’s 2-1 victory over India in the group stage, Shrestha had made a superlative overlap run and produced a stellar cross.
As the most valuable player of the Nepali team, Shrestha received a motorbike as a reward for his performance.
“We couldn’t achieve success for the team. That’s why I couldn’t fully celebrate the individual prize that I received,” said Shrestha.
Shrestha said that he still has a dream to lift the SAFF Championship trophy in the future.
“I’ll always put up my full efforts for the national side. I still hope we’ll lift the SAFF trophy in the near future. We have to start preparations from now, at least from our individual side,” said Shrestha. The 24-year-old from Jaleswar in Mohattari District got selected in the third batch of the ANFA Academy and started his football career officially in 2004.
He debuted for the national team against North Korea in the AFC Challenge Cup’s final round held in Hyderabad, India, in 2008. He has been a regular member of the Nepali national team since then.
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