Controversial Thapa’s fall from the grace

Ganesh Thapa, the disgraced former captain and sacked chief of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), is believed to have amassed fame and fortune both through football. Thapa, the most decorated sportsperson of the country once, has been kicked out of football by apex football body FIFA one and a half month earlier.

Along with his ‘popularity’, Thapa is also the most controversial sports figure of the country. Though his contemporary players like to describe him as a gifted player, many of them level him an arrogant and cunning person.   

His football career was eclipsed after he was handed a 10-year ban from all football related activities on November 16 earlier this year for misusing his power and for personal and family gain. 

Apart from being founding president of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) for 10-years from 1999, he also succeeded to become the Vice President of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2011 largely due to blessing of then chief of Asian governing body chief Mohammed bin Hammam rather than by his personal capability. However, it is a biggest honor a Nepali football administrator has achieved at the international level. He was also the Disciplinary Committee Member of 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and Organizing Committee member of 1998 France World Cup.

Nepali talents need to be identified and given opportunities: Whatmore

·         With all developing teams, there are areas which need improvement
·         There are always ways of improving and getting opportunity
·         There are quite good players in Nepal. They need to be identified, groomed and given opportunity
·         The game is played in the head

Dav Whatmore, the world cup winning cricket coach with Sri Lanka in 1996, conducted a two-week high performance training camp from January 25 to February 7 for 32 players including members of the national cricket team. He also ran a two-day coaching clinic for cricket coaches of Nepal. 

The high performance camp was held on the eve of Nepal’s ICC World Cricket League Championship fifth round match against Kenya. Nepal is scheduled to take on Kenya on March 11 and 13 at TU grounds, Kirtipur.

Dav Whatmore 

Whatmore, the Sri Lanka-born Australian, arrived Nepal under the initiation of newly formed Bat and Ball Foundation (B2F). Whatmore, who has the experience of playing seven Test matches and one ODI for Australia, is the most high profile coach Nepal has ever got an opportunity to trained with. Prajwal Oli caught up with him after completion of his last day training camp on February 5. Excerpts.

How was the training camp and your stay in Nepal?

We started with two days’ workshop with coaches and then we got into practical work with extended group of boys (national team). It was very very rewarding experience. It is my first time in Nepal and I think I am better person for coming here and working with the boys. I hope you will see improvement very soon.