Kathmandu, 5 Jul: After defeating the Sri Lankan team and advancing to the final against Uzbekistan, the Nepali women’s football team received a message of good luck from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today. Just after returning from an official visit to Spain and resuming his regular duties, Prime Minister Oli conveyed his best wishes virtually from the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, while the players joined in from Uzbekistan.
Wishing them success, Prime Minister Oli greeted the players, waving and saying, “Hello! Samba and team, wish you all the best.” In response, team captain Sabitra Bhandari, also known as Samba, stood up, greeted with a traditional “Namaste,” and waved back. The other players applauded and expressed their gratitude for the Prime Minister’s encouraging words.
Tangka Lal Ghising, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, along with All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai, who joined virtually from Nepal, were also encouraged by the Prime Minister’s message.
Expressing joy over Nepal’s excellent performance in defeating Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Oli voiced confidence that Nepal would win the final match against Uzbekistan. “I appreciate your contribution in elevating the nation’s pride,” he said. “This will mark another golden milestone in the 40-year journey of Nepali women’s football. I see the spirit of victory in you. You must win. We will win. We will take this as a turning point.”
Encouraging the players, he added, “I will be with you in spirit during the match. The government will do what is necessary for the development of the sports sector.”
Reflecting on his recent visit to Spain, Prime Minister Oli mentioned his tour of Real Madrid’s stadium and said he was considering how similar stadiums could be built in Nepal. He emphasized that despite limited resources and means, Nepal’s sports sector is steadily strengthening. He also stressed the need to see sports not just as an area of expenditure, but as a sector capable of generating income.
ANFA President Nembang thanked Prime Minister Oli for his good wishes and expressed commitment to support the government’s efforts in developing sports infrastructure. He added that the Prime Minister’s visit to Real Madrid’s stadium reflected his dedication to sports development in Nepal and served as encouragement for all those involved in the sector.
