Sriram Ranjitkar, a respected and well-known figure in Nepali sports arena, received a lifetime achievement award at the Pulsar Sports Award on Thursday.

The 59-year-old former international footballer dedicated almost all his life to football—first as a player, then as a referee, referee instructor and referee assessor. Ranjitkar picked up a knee injury during a game in 1981 which would cut short his playing career.

The injury warranted an immediate surgery, but Ranjitkar opted to continue playing through the pain on painkillers for a long time. The severity of the injury was dawn on him when he consulted a doctor in Germany in 1989.

Senior sports journalist Shyam Chitrakar recalls Ranjitkar as one of the most dedicated national team players of all time. “He took pride in playing for the nation. He used to give his all and would play despite suffering with chronic injury,” said Chitrakar.

Looking back to his career, Ranjitkar, however, takes a great satisfaction for what he has achieved. He was a member of the national team that won the gold medal in the inaugural 1984 South Asian Games on home soil. He also represented Nepal in three more editions of the regional games, winning a silver and a bronze medal. “I am indebted to football as I have gained a lot from it,” said Ranjitkar, thanking the organisers for recognising his contribution.

Born in Tehbahal, Kathmandu in 1957, Ranjitkar was naturally attracted to football in a young age as his family shifted to Dillibazaar, then a home of popular football club Mahabir. He started his career in football with Yeti Club in the ‘B’ Division in 1973-74 and there was no looking back.

After three seasons in the lower rung, he joined top-tier side Thamel Club. Although Ranjitkar played for almost all the top teams in Kathmandu, the central defender spent the longest spell with New Road Team. He also plied trade with Bangladeshi outfits—Dhaka Wanderers and Brothers Union—for two seasons.

Considered as a member of the golden generation of Nepali football, Ranjitkar made his international debut at the Aaga Khan Gold Cup in Bangladesh in 1979. He quickly established himself as an integral part of the national team by the time Nepal made their maiden appearance in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

He was also a member of the team that participated in the first South Asian Games, Olympic qualifier and Fifa World Cup qualifier.

After calling time on his playing career, he took up a job at the National Sports Council as a time-keeper and participated in a referee training in Hetauda in 1988. He turned to refereeing after the untimely demise of his idol Rupak Raj Sharma. The former national team skipper turned referee died in the air crash in 1992 while returning from Pakistan.

Ranjitkar officiated in domestic and international matches over a decade. He retired from the NSC job last year, but his love with football continues. 

He is still making contributions to Anfa on technical aspects of the game and nurture hopes to go a long way. “I will continue to be associated with football as long as my body permits,” says Ranjitkar.

•  Nat’l team debut: 1982 Asian Games, New Delhi
• Caps: 23
• SA Games: Gold (1984)
• Overseas stint: Dhaka Wanderers, Brothers Union
• 1991: Quits playing career
• 1993-2002: Referee
• 2002-present: Referee Instructor