KATHMANDU, Jan 19: A team of veteran footballers representing Nepal has left for Kolkata, India on Wednesday to take part in Kolkata's 8'S International Invitational Veterans Soccer Challenge 2017. Nepali team named CMG Club comprising of 16 players and five officials will take part in the event to be played at Harinavi Sporting Club's ground from January 21 to 23. 

Jay Krishna Shrestha is the coach while Rajesh Manandhar is the skipper of the Nepali side studded with former national captains including Upendra Man Singh, Bal Gopal Maharjan and Rakesh Shrestha. 

The tournament organized by United Veterans Kolkata will feature eight veterans' teams including one each from Nepal and Bangladesh and other six from India. The teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each. The winner and the runner up of either groups will make it to the semifinals.   

Speaking during the farewell program, former captain of the national team and a member of the veteran team, Upendra Man Singh,  suggested All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to organize veteran football tournaments in Nepal. 

“ANFA needs to organize such tournaments in order to include former players who are now inactive in Nepali football,” said Upendra. 

On the same occasion ANFA's CEO Indra Man Tuladhar informed that the apex body of Nepali football had included veterans football tournament in annual calendar two years ago but failed to hold it. “We couldn't organize such tournaments in the past but will organize them in the coming years,” said Tuladhar. 

Former national team captain and Nepal Police's ex-IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel, CEO Tuladhar among others bade farewell to the team amid a program organized in the capital on Wednesday.   

 
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