ANFA picks junior squads, U-16 to participate in SAFF C’ships

KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association on Friday finalised the U-14 and U-16 squads for the ANFA Academy.

A total of 47 players — 16 in U-14 and 31 in U-16 — have been picked following the two-day final selection that ended on Friday, the ANFA informed in a release. “The final list comprises previous academy players and newly selected ones from the nationwide trials. The selection process began in early April but the final selection was postponed due to the April 25 earthquake.”

The release added: “Some of the U-14 players, who took part in recently held AFC U-14 Regional Festival of Football in Tajikistan have also been included in U-16 Academy. The U-16 academy players will represent Nepal in the upcoming SAFF U-16 Championship after further selection.” The players will be kept at the residential ANFA Academy, which will take care of the footballers.

Arpan Karki, Sandesh Gurung, Akash Ranabhat, Ujjwal Limbu, Roman Limbu, Bidur Rijal, Laxman Pariyar, Rajan Gurung, Asim Bhushal, Pawan Karki, Abhishek Verma, Anos Thapa Magar, Suman Aryal, Ujjwal Mahat, Ashish KC, Abhishek Rijal, Dewas Urow, Manish Karki, Sesesang Angdenday Limbu, Sanjoy Rai, Aric Bista, Anil Maharjan, Jaya Gurung, Bikash Ale, Ashok Thapa, Rajiv Lopchan, Rejin Subba, Dinesh Yonjon, Prizan Tamang, Rajesh Pariyar, and Chitiz GD are the players selected in the U-16 squad.

Likewise, the players picked in U-14 squad included Amrit Gurung, Dinesh Murmur, Abhishek Bohara, Ajay Shahi, Sujan Sharma, Ganesh Pun Magar, Bishal Basnet, Suraj Shahi, Anish Thapa, Ashish Pariyar, Bibek Chaudhary, Surya Adhikari, Bikash Khawas, Nitin Thapa Magar, Dipson Raut and Darshan Gurung.