REPUBLICA
KATHMADNU, Aug 18: Nepali national football team registered victory in the first match of its Kuwait tour on Saturday. Nepal defeated Kuwait U-20 team 2-0 at the Al Kazma SC ground with goals from forwards Jumanu Rai and Anil Gurung.
The Nepali team arrived in Kuwait after playing two friendly matches in Bahrain as part of preparations for the Eighth SAFF Championship to be held in Kathmandu from August 31 to September 11.
Nepal took the lead three minutes before the interval as Rai scored in a brilliant cross from Jagjeet Shrestha for his first goal for the national team after nearly 10 months. Rai had last scored for the national team in Nepal´s 2-1 defeat against the Maldives during the Nehru Cup in New Delhi.
Gurung netted in the 58th minute in a pass set by Rai in Prakash Budathoki´s cross.
According to the Nepali team´s technical director Krishna Thapa, who has accompanied the team on the Gulf tour, Gurung and Rai had perfect coordination in the match.
Thapa, however, termed the Kuwait youth team as inexperienced. “Kuwait youth team was inexperienced but technically sound. Nepal´s overall performance was satisfactory, neither very good nor bad,” Thapa told Republica over telephone.
According to Thapa, the Kuwait team had weak finishing. “Nepal´s custodian Kiran Chemjong prevented an attempt on goal while another hit the crossbar. They also made a few other attempts but failed to score.”
Thapa also lauded striker Rai and Gurung´s coordination in the match. “Rai was sure to score the second goal in Budhathoki´s cross. But he selflessly set it up for Gurung. The coordination among the forwards has been fantastic in the tour,” Thapa said.
Nepal had reached Kuwait a week ago after an 11-day tour of Bahrain. In the friendlies played in Bahrain, Nepal had lost 3-0 against Bahrain U-23 and defeated local club East Riffa 1-0.
Meanwhile, Nepal´s international defender Rohit Chand, who plays professional football in Indonesia, joined the team in Kuwait on Sunday morning. Rohit is playing football for Indonesia´s top-tier side Persija Jakarta.
Nepal´s team leader and ANFA Vice-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha confirmed the arrival of Rohit in Kuwait. According to Shrestha, Nepal will play another friendly match on Sunday night against Al-Arabi SC, a local team of Kuwait. “We have arranged another friendly to give chance to other members of the squad,” said Shrestha.
Nepal is scheduled to play another match against Fahaheel Sports Club of Kuwait before the team returns home on August 25, six days before the kick-off of the Eighth SAFF Championship.