KATHMANDU, May 5: Former Nepal national football team duo Jumanu Rai and Anu Lama have been felicitated with Special Awards in the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Day organized in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Men’s team member Rai and women’s team member Lama were felicitated with the awards in the ANFA Day organized for the first time for their contributions to the national team.
Along with the awards, both the players received Rs 1.5 million each.
Lama, who was also the former captain of the national team, had scored 35 goals for the country. Likewise, Rai, who had returned from Peace Mission, had scored 11 goals for the men’s national team.
Rai and Lama are both associated with the departmental teams as Rai is from Nepal Police Club and Lama from Armed Police Force (APF) Club.
Jumanu hat-trick sends Police to National League
In the foreign professional football playing category, men’s national team duo goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong and midfielder Rohit Chand were felicitated as well. Both the players got Rs 100,000 each.
Chemjong plays for TC
Sports Club in Maldives, while Chand plays for Persija Jakarta in Indonesia.
Chemjong while leading his team to 2018 Dhivehi Premier League had won the best goalkeeper award, while Chand led his team to the Liga 1 title and became the most valuable player in 2018.
ANFA, on the occasion, had felicitated players in several categories.
Women’s national team member Manjali Kumari Yonjan won the women’s rising talent award. In men’s category, national team member Abhishek Rijal won the rising talent award. Both of them received Rs 100,000 each.
Yonjan was an integral part of the team when Nepal finished as the runner-ups in India’s Hero Cup and the SAFF Women’s Championship.
Likewise, former national player Hari Khadka won the best coach award for his contribution the national women’s team.
Along with the award, Khadka was given a motorcycle and Rs 100,000.
During his coaching, Nepal reached to the second round of the Olympic Qualifiers. Khadka also was the coach of the women’s team when the country reached the final of the Hero Cup and the SAFF’s Women’s Championship.
ANFA presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Bhagirath Ale and he was given Rs 350,000 and a motorcycle.
Labh Khatri and Ashmita Manandhar won the best referee awards in men’s and women’s categories respectively. Likewise, Morang was chosen as the best district, while Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League champion Manang Marshyangdi Club was presented the award for the best club.
