A day after giving national team defender Sandeep Rai a car as Ncell Football Player of the Year Award, ANFA awarded a two-bedroom apartment to Thapa on Friday amidst a function held at the ANFA Complex, Lalitpur. Thapa will get an apartment at the Mero City Housing at Hattiban, Lalitpur.[break]
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal handed over a replica of the apartment and letter of appreciation to Thapa, who has been playing professional football for NIBL Friends Club since last season.
ANFA honors footballers with this award based on their service to the national team, performance and discipline.
PHOTO: DIPESH SHRESTHA
ANFA had announced the Best Player Award for the first time in 2062 BS. Former national team captain Upendra Man Singh was awarded a Toyota Yaris car in 2062 BS and another former captain Hari Khadka had received the same award in 2063 BS. ANFA didn´t announce the award for the next few years and resumed it last year, when another former national team captain Rakesh Shrestha received an apartment.
"I have received an apartment for my contribution to football today. When I look back, I´m happy to say that my decision to seek a career in football was right," said 29-year-old Thapa.
Thapa had debuted for the national team in 2003 against Vietnam during the Asian Cup Qualifiers held in South Korea. Thapa, who has won 53 caps for the national team, was appointed captain in 2009 during the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. Defender Thapa has scored only one goal in his international career.
He had scored against Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship 2011 held in New Delhi with a stunning free-kick in the dying minutes of the match. The goal had secured Nepal´s berth in the semifinals of the championship after 12 years and the goal was nominated as one of the top five goals of the world for the week by the popular football website, goal.com.
PHOTO: DIPESH SHRESTHA
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