KATHMANDU, Nov 17: A 16-member football team, Friends of Japan, arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday to take part in a charity football match against Nepal's national football team at ANFA complex on November 19.
The match is being organized by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and Colorbath, an NGO based in Japan and Nepal, to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relation between the two countries.
All Nepal Football Association (ANFA)'s CEO Indra Man Tuladhar and Colorbath's Nepal representative Ganesh Lal Lama welcomed the Japanese squad at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Japanese team led by Toda Kazuyuki, who played for Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2002, consists of players who have experience of playing in the J-League and other foreign leagues.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival, Toda said he knew nothing about Nepali football until Nepal's recently match between Laos and Brunei Darussalam in the AFC Solidarity Cup held in Malaysia. He, however, said that he found Nepali team to be very professional and disciplined.
"I was provided DVDs of the two matches. The team was disciplined," he said. "It could be because the team is coached by a Japanese," he added jokingly.
ANFA's CEO Tuladhar informed that the decision over what kind of Nepali team is to be played is yet to be confirmed. However, he hinted that national team that won the Solidarity Cup few days back is likely to play the exhibition match.
Friends indeed
