Dissatisfaction with coach Al Mutairi’s work style; 9 players left training camp

KATHMANDU: APRIL. 28 – Nine disgruntled players have left the national football team’s training camp. They have left the camp, expressing dissatisfaction with head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi’s working style.

There are nine players leaving the camp, including senior player Rohit Chand. After Rohit expressed his displeasure with the coach’s working style, he was joined by eight other players in his support. When senior player Rohit raised the issue of player convenience, coach Al Mutairi reacted angrily, infuriating the players. When Rohit mentioned the players’ food and lodging, it is said that coach Al Mutairi became enraged.

Following Rohit’s dissatisfaction, coach Al Mutairi paved the way for the dissidents to leave the training camp, and nine players joined him. National team manager Madhusudan Upadhyaya, on the other hand, stated that Rohit had not returned to practice for a few days due to injury. The Nepali team is currently in closed training for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 selection. There were 25 players in the last-week training session.

Players including Bishal Rai, Ananta Tamang, Bimal Gharti Magar and Anjan Bista had left the hotel after the team meeting on Tuesday evening. As a result, 9 players, including Rohit, were absent from Wednesday’s practice. When the national team’s management informed the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) that the players had left the training camp, ANFA Chairperson Karma Chhiring Sherpa stated that he could not discuss the matter right away. He did, however, acknowledge that there was a dispute between the players and the coach.

Nepal will face Afghanistan in an international friendly match in preparation for the Asian Cup qualifiers on May 25 and 29. The Nepali team is scheduled to travel to Qatar after a month of practice in the country. In the Asian Cup qualifiers, Nepal is in a difficult group. Nepal, Jordan, Kuwait, and Indonesia are all members of Group A. The top team of the group will be selected in the Asian Cup and the second team will also have a chance.

According to reports, Nepal’s group matches will be played in Kuwait during this friendly match, which will begin on June 8 and end on June 14.

The Nepali team announced for selection is as follows:

Goalkeeper

Kiran Kumar Limbu
Deep Karki
Bishal Shrestha

Players:

Ananta Tamang
Anjan Bista
Arik Bista
Aayush Ghalan
Bikash Khawas
Bimal Gharti Magar
Darshan Gurung
Devendra Tamang
Dinesh Rajbanshi
Gautam Shrestha
Manish Dangi
Nawayug Shrestha
Pujan Uparkoti
Rohit Chand
Santosh Tamang
Sujal Shrestha
Suman Aryal
Suman Lama
Sunil Bal
Suraj Jeu Thakuri
Tej Tamang
Bishal Rai