Among the 24 players undergoing closed camp training, Anil Ojha of Three Star, Nirajan Malla of Armed Police Force (APF), Jeetendra Karki of New Road Team (NRT) and Ramesh Katwal of Nepal Police Club were left out from the squad declared by the coach Graham Roberts. [break]
Malla, Karki and Katwal were three among four players called for the closed camp following Nepali squad´s arrival from ASEAN tour about a month ago. Midfielder Bijay Gurung, who was called along with them, secured his place in the team.
Nepal Army Club midfielder Raju Tamang, who joined the closed camp training on November 6, was able to impress coach Roberts and secure his place in the final squad.
Tamang, a regular member of the national squad, who made his debut for the national side at Bangladesh SAFF Championship in 2004, remained away from football for the last seven months as he left for Haiti in Nepal Army´s peace keeping mission on April 15 earlier this year and returned home on November 4.
The last time Tamang had featured for the national team was during the group stage match of AFC Challenge Cup held from April 7-11earlier this year in kathmandu.
"Tamang is strong and talented player. He is fit and doing good in training as well," Roberts told Republica.
The announcement of his inclusion in the national squad, however, came as a surprise for Tamang. "I had not expected that I shall get a place in the squad with only three weeks training," said a delighted Tamang, adding, "Despite being in the Haiti Mission, I used to play football there and undergo physical and other exercise on my own."
"Captain Sagar Thapa, Sandeep Rai and Nirajan Khadka were injured a couple of weeks ago. But they have recovered now and are cent percent fit for the tournament," Roberts told, adding that striker midfielder Bharat Khawas and midfielder Gurung were the exceptional players of his squad.
"I am confident of my team which is in good shape. We are eying for the title," Roberts said, adding, "The group stage match against Maldives and Bangladesh won´t be easy, but we can beat them."
Nepal is pitted in Group B along with the Maldives, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Nepal will start its campaign against the Maldives on the opening day. Group A consists of host India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Kiran Chemjong, Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa
Defenders: Sagar Thapa (C), Sandip Rai, Rohit Chand, Deepak Bhusal, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Rabin Shrestha, Biraj Maharjan
Midfielders: Nirajan Khadka, Raju Tamang, Bharat Khawas, Bijay Gurung, Bhola Silwal, Jagjjet Shrestha
Forwards: Jumanu Rai, Santosh Sahukhala, Anil Gurung, Sujal Shrestha
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