Nepal’s top scorer Anu Lama quits national duty
Every player dream to end their career on high note. So did national women team’s prolific striker Anu Lama. After undergoing operation for injury to Anterior Cruciate Ligament in December 2016, She has been left out from the national squad. The 32-year-old former Nepal skipper knew that her career is coming to end and waited for right moment to call a quit.
She made her mind to hang her boot during the fifth edition of the SAFF Championship as it was going to be held in Nepal. Nothing would be better than to end her career amidst a home fans at home ground. Looking at her contribution to national women’s football she deserved the big occasion. And it was SAFF Championship.
The highest international scorer’s dream evaporated as She was snubbed from the national squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship which was held in March in Biratnagar where Nepal finished runners up for the fourth time. She at least deserved to be a bench warmer and few minutes extra time run at the SAFF before announcing her retirement.
But All Nepal Football Association has different plan for her fare wale. Disappointed Lama, eventually, received a deserving fare wale as she was awarded with a Special Contribution Award 2075 at the ANFA Day marked this week. She took the opportunity to announce her retirement after receiving the award worth of Rs. 150,000.
Thanking all the individuals who supported her during her decade long career, Lama said that she cannot disengage herself from the football. She promised to engage herself in domestic football and after her playing days are over, Lama would be finding her future in the other suitable roles at football.
Born in Makwanpur in 1987, Lama holds the record of most number of goals. She has netted 35 goals wearing the national jersey for more than 20 times. Her last appearance for the national team was as a substitute against Myanmar during the Hero Women’s Gold Cup held on February in India.
Despite of the unwillingness from the family, she started playing football from her school days. After her family shifted, she continued her football playing from Rautahat. Impressed with her game, She was picked by APF Club. Since 2063 BS Lama has been playing for APF.
Lama’s international debut coincided with the re-emergence of the Nepali women football. Nepal was not holding football at domestic front and neither was playing any international football for long time.
After the reinstatement of domestic league in 2009, Nepali women played their first international football tournament at the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh held in 2010. It was the first time the women’s football was included in the SAG.
Anu was also the member of the U-23 Nepali squad that landed with silver medal. She made her debut then by playing against Bangladesh. Though she could not found the score sheet in the 1-0 win over host, Lama impressed in the other matches. She scored a winner against Sri Lanka and completed a hat trick against Pakistan.
Following her remarkable performance, Anu was called up for the senior team for the 2010 SAFF Women’s Championship. She made her senior team debut memorable by scoring four goals in the 8-0 thrashing against Kuwait in a friendly match. Her goal spree continued in the SAFF too as she was declared the best player with three hat-tricks. Under her armband, Nepal also finished runners up in 2014 SAFF.
She made her mind to hang her boot during the fifth edition of the SAFF Championship as it was going to be held in Nepal. Nothing would be better than to end her career amidst a home fans at home ground. Looking at her contribution to national women’s football she deserved the big occasion. And it was SAFF Championship.
The highest international scorer’s dream evaporated as She was snubbed from the national squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship which was held in March in Biratnagar where Nepal finished runners up for the fourth time. She at least deserved to be a bench warmer and few minutes extra time run at the SAFF before announcing her retirement.
But All Nepal Football Association has different plan for her fare wale. Disappointed Lama, eventually, received a deserving fare wale as she was awarded with a Special Contribution Award 2075 at the ANFA Day marked this week. She took the opportunity to announce her retirement after receiving the award worth of Rs. 150,000.
Thanking all the individuals who supported her during her decade long career, Lama said that she cannot disengage herself from the football. She promised to engage herself in domestic football and after her playing days are over, Lama would be finding her future in the other suitable roles at football.
Born in Makwanpur in 1987, Lama holds the record of most number of goals. She has netted 35 goals wearing the national jersey for more than 20 times. Her last appearance for the national team was as a substitute against Myanmar during the Hero Women’s Gold Cup held on February in India.
Despite of the unwillingness from the family, she started playing football from her school days. After her family shifted, she continued her football playing from Rautahat. Impressed with her game, She was picked by APF Club. Since 2063 BS Lama has been playing for APF.
Lama’s international debut coincided with the re-emergence of the Nepali women football. Nepal was not holding football at domestic front and neither was playing any international football for long time.
After the reinstatement of domestic league in 2009, Nepali women played their first international football tournament at the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh held in 2010. It was the first time the women’s football was included in the SAG.
Anu was also the member of the U-23 Nepali squad that landed with silver medal. She made her debut then by playing against Bangladesh. Though she could not found the score sheet in the 1-0 win over host, Lama impressed in the other matches. She scored a winner against Sri Lanka and completed a hat trick against Pakistan.
Following her remarkable performance, Anu was called up for the senior team for the 2010 SAFF Women’s Championship. She made her senior team debut memorable by scoring four goals in the 8-0 thrashing against Kuwait in a friendly match. Her goal spree continued in the SAFF too as she was declared the best player with three hat-tricks. Under her armband, Nepal also finished runners up in 2014 SAFF.
The experience of Anu will certainly be felt in the national team but the void she left is not unrepairable. Her absence will certainly provide opportunity for the new talents. The U-19 talents Rekha Poudel, Saru Limbu, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Puja Rana who made it to the national squad in SAFF could be one of the player who could take the place left by Anu. Another Nepali football prodigy Sabitra Bhandari is expected to outnumber the goals Anu scored very soon. Bhandari is just seven goals away to match Anu.
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