A Nepal team is set to compete in the 2018 Street Child World Cup football tournament to be held in Russia ahead of the Fifa World Cup. 

The 7-a-side tournament scheduled from May 19-27, about a month before Fifa World Cup, will have participation of street and orphan children from 14 to below 17 years age group. Nepal’s boys team will take part in the event under the banner of Shelter Ashray Nepal (SAN), an NGO working for the welfare of orphan, under-privileged and street children. The tournament in Moscow will feature 24 teams from 22 countries—12 teams each in boys and girls’ categories, said SAN during a press conference on Monday.

SAN President Khusbu Oli said they were planning select players within a month from various organisations working in the field of street and orphan children by organising a league tournament. The best 22 players will be picked up on the basis of their performance before keeping them in a closed camp training. Coach Rajan Neupane will conduct the training before finalising the nine players for the Russia event.

Besides competing in the tournament, the selected players will also participate at interaction and cultural exchange programmes, informed SAN. The hosts will bear the expenses of the players during their stay in Russia.  SAN take care of preparations and transportations costs of the Nepali team. Former national team footballer Basnata Gauchan handed over football kits to SAN on behalf Funroots Football Academy based in Japan.