All Nepal Football Association honoured veteran footballers Jumanu Rai and Anu Lama with special contribution awards as the football governing body marked the ANFA Day on Sunday.

Rai was feted with the award in male’s category and Lama in female category. Both of the footballers received Rs 1.5 million each along with appreciation letter and gift hampers. The 35-year-old Rai, also the forward of Nepal Police Club, is one of the all-time highest scorer for the national team with 11 goals. Rai, who made debut for the national team in 2006, is only behind Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi (13 goals each) in the list of all-time highest scorer.  But the NPC striker has been left out of the national team for the last three years. Capped 53 times, Rai’s last appearance for Nepal was during a friendly against India in Pune in 2015.

The Nepal APF Club forward Lama is the all-time highest scorer in women’s football with 35 international goals under her belt. The former national women’s football team skipper marked her debut for the national team during the 2010 South Asian Games. But she was left out of the Nepal’s squad of the fifth SAFF Championship held in March in Biratnagar. Lama immediately announced her retirement from national team after receiving the award on Sunday.

Lama last appeared as a substitute against Myanmar during the Hero Women’s Gold Cup in February. She was sidelined since December 2016 after undergoing operation for injury to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). She returned to action one and half year after the surgery. But she had never been the first choice player in the national squad though she was included in starting XI in all match for APF Club during the CoAS International Women’s Football title. Lama said: “I thank everyone for helping me gain this height as footballer. I am thankful to ANFA for recognizing my contributions,” she said.

Veteran coach and Jhapa District Football Association president Bhagirath Ale was feted with lifetime achievement award. He has served as coach for nearly four decades. He was handed over Rs 350,000 along with Yamaha motorbike. Nepali international player Manjali Kumari Yonjan bagged emerging player award in female’s category and Avishek Rijal was named the emerging male player. Ashmita Manandhar and Laba Khatri were declared referees of the year. All of winners got a motorbike along with Rs 100,000.

Hari Khadka, who guided the team to final of fifth SAFF Women’s Championship in March, was named the best coach of the year. He also oversaw the team that made it to the second round of 2020 Olympics Qualifier. Khadka was provided with a motorbike and Rs 100,000 in cash.

Nepali national players Kiran Chemjong and Rohit Chand were feted with best professional players at international arena. Chemjong plies his trade with TC Sports Club of Maldives and help the team claim Dhivehi Premier League in his debut season. Chand is perusing professional career in Indonesia premier division football with Persija Jakarta. The midfielder helped the club win the Liga 1, the premier division league in Indonesia. He was named best player of the tournament and became first Asian player in the history of tournament to win the award.

Both of footballers received Rs 100,000 each. Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League champions Manang Marshyangdi Club were declared the best team and Morang District Football Association the best district association.