The national football team left Nepal for Kolkata, India to start their 8-day-long tour with some friendly matches against Indian Clubs; East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Club today.

The tour is organized to strength the side and also to acclimatize to the weather of Bangladesh. The Nepalese team is preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup, which will be played in Bangladesh from April 1 to 16.

The 23-member national squad was given a farewell by ANFA President Ganesh Thapa and General Secretary Narendra Shrestha and other ANFA officials amid a function here at All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur.

The Nepalese team will leave Kolkata for Chittagong on 31st March where they kick off the campaign against Bhutan on 2nd April in Chittagong.
ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, who is also the chairman of the AFC organizing committee, said he wanted to make sure that the national team went to Bangladesh fully prepared for the challenging assignment. “We want results,” Thapa said. “This is a great chance to uplift our international image in Chittagong.” Thapa also warned players to stay disciplined and told coaches to web a strong strategy to beat the rivals.

“The friendly matches with Indian clubs will be a learning experience for us from where we can learn many things before going to Bangladesh,” ANFA General Secretary Narendra Shrestha told Nepalnews.

In the meantime, ANFA announced Hari Khadka as skipper with Basanta Thapa his deputy. In the AFC Challenge Cup, Nepal have been slotted in Group B alongside Bhutan, Brunei and Sri Lanka.