We want to play World Cup: Captain Baskota

Teenage cricketer Prithu Baskota, who made his national team debut in the 16th Asian Games, is the captain of Nepali U-19 team for the upcoming ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers. Baskota is the only player to lead Nepal in all age groups.

Nepali U-15 team won the ACC U-15 Elite Cup in 2006 in Malaysia under the leadership of Baskota. He, then, led Nepali team to win the ACC U-17 Elite Cup in 2009 in Kathmandu. Baskota was the vice-captain of the Nepali team that participated in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup 2009 in Kuwait, where Nepal could not reach the final for the first time in 10 years and missed the chance
to play World Cup Qualifiers.

However, Nepali team reached the final of ACC U-19 Elite Cup held in Thailand earlier this year and secured its chance to play ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Ireland from July 28 to August 9. Nepali team, which spent a month and a half in closed camp training, will leave Kathmandu on Sunday. Top six teams of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers will secure berth in the U-19 World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia in 2012 and the Nepali youths are targeting one of the spots.

Republica scribe Nabin Khatiwada talked to Captain Baskota on the eve of departure of the Nepali team.

How was the closed camp training?
The training was good. We were in the closed camp training for a month and a half and we improved with every passing day. We are physically and mentally stonger after the training. We worked to improve in every departments of the game. Meanwhile, we know that the wickets in Ireland will be fast unlike slow wickets of Nepal and we are training to adjust with this during the game.

Will it be that easy to adjust in the conditions of Ireland?

It could have been better if we had reached Ireland earlier than our scheduled time but I´m confident we´ll adjust. We were trying to play quick shots on bowling machine expecting bouncy wickets in Ireland.

What would you say about Nepali U-19 team?

I think the current Nepali team is more balnaced than the team that took part in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup in Thailand. We have a medium pacer, a spinner and a batsmen added in the squad and it has enhanced our bench strength.

What are the strength and weakness of your team?
Spin attack is our most significant strength and we are good in fielding. Overall, we have a balanced team. I don´t see any particular weakness but I would like to say we are improving every day in all departments of the game.

How do you rate your opponents in the Qualifiers?
So far as I´m concerned, Afghanistan could be the toughest for us. European teams - Scotland and Ireland - might be the other tough challengers. We do not know much about other teams and keeping this fact in mind, we´ll take every match seriously.

If so, what is the target of the Nepali team?
We want to qualify for the World Cup. This World Cup could be the last U-19 tournament for many players in the squad if we qualify. We all have a dream of playing the World Cup and I´m hopeful we´ll achieve success.

How desperate are you for playing the World Cup?
In our team, only Rahul dai (Rahul BK) has World Cup experience. And, I already told you that we want to play the World Cup.

Source : Republica

Nepal Vs Jordan : Draw

KATHMANDU, July 29: Nepali football team restored lost pride on Thursday, five days after its 9-0 drubbing, with a 1-1 draw at home against mighty Jordan during the second leg of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Dasharath Stadium.

Jordan, having hammered Nepal in the first leg at Amman, advanced into the
group stage with a 10-1 win in aggregate.

To brush aside the humiliating first leg defeat, substitute Bharat Khawas scored the 80th minute goal to earn a draw, as Nepal came up from behind. Earlier, midfielder S. Murjan had put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute.

In the stadium with a capacity crowd, Khawas achieved his target when he unleashed a powerful shot from the box in a brilliant short pass by Sahukhala, who sprinted the ball a long way before setting it for Khawas.

The draw was no less than a victory for the Nepali team and it was a result not just of the effort of the team but support from the huge home crowd, the enthusiasm of the players and the heavy downpour which started during the first half and subsided in the middle of the second half. The downpour truly favored the Nepali players, disturbing Jordan players´ more than the home side.

"Not only do we know the soil of this stadium and country but the soil also knows us very well," an emotional Nepali captain, Sagar Thapa, said during a post match press conference, adding, "When we play with great support from fans on home ground we feel like we could play carrying all 11 opponent players on our shoulders without feeling tired. I would like to salute the fans."

According to Thapa, the support of spectators at the parapet was a challenge to heavy downpour and it finally gave up. The hooting of ´Nepal, Nepal´ resounded in the 18,000 capacity stadium right from the beginning until final whistle.

"The spectators deserve the win. The crowd was fantastic and showed their pride," said Nepal´s British coach Graham Roberts. "The country has top celebrating spectators," the former England international said, adding, "We matched with Jordan today."

Jordan, which made six changes in the starting lineup including four goal scorer Hasan Abdel Mahmoud and first choice goalie Amer Sh, felt the pressure and failed to coordinate well on the slippery ground.

However, it was Jordan that took the lead with Murjan´s open header in a corner off A Deeb who had netted twice in the first leg match to stun goalie Kiran Chemjong.

But Khawas, who came off the bench in the 66th minute as replacement for Biraj Maharjan, turned the hero for the team when he got back the equalizer.

The goal aside, Nepal squandered about half a dozen scoring chances while Jordan crafted only a couple of attractive moves.

Sahukhala of Nepal, named in the starting lineup, put up a powerful and impressive show. However, he squandered a couple of chances as well. In the 44th minute he failed to hit the ball from the box after brilliantly beating two defenders. In the 35th minute also he was cleared by defenders in the box.

Nepal had nearly doubled the tally in the 46th minute when Anil Gurung´s low header rebounded from the base of the pole. Jumanu Rai hit inches wide from the six-yard box in the 81st minute and skipper Thapa´s header in Nirajan Khadka´s corner flicked by Rohit Chand sailed above the bar in the 35th. Khadka´s long range shot in the 71st minute sailed inches above bar.

Anas Hijah´s powerful freekick shot for Jordan in the 14th minute was punched by goalie Chemjong, and Baha Suleiman´s volley in a rebound went wide. Similarly, defender Chand, as a last man, made a brilliant tackle to clear Suleiman in one-on-one position.

"We dominated the show and every player played fantastic," said Roberts adding, "I have asked the boys to play from the soul for the country and the people and they did it. We also missed a couple of scoring chances." Roberts also lauded the home supporters.

Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=34010

Earthquake Awareness Song (TIME! Album) by Captain "V"

Nobody can never predict what nature has got for you.
When it shows its darkest nature there's nothing we can do
We cannot beat the nature but we can be aware of its action
Spreading awareness among people is the only way that we can "SAVE OUR NATION"

Song Title: Earthquake (TIME Album)
Lyrics/Music/Vocal: Captain "V"

Direction / Edit: Revolution Media
Camera: Ratna Karki

Audio On: Limited Edition
VFX: Sea Horse Production