With 13 international goals Anjan Bista is among the top goal scorers for Nepal. The 13 international goals, equalises the records of Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi. Bista is one of the experienced players in Nepal’s men football. On the other hand, Aditya Shakya has been called up to the Nepal national team for the first time.
A seasoned player and a determined young talent, these two players are part of the Nepalese football team preparing to play two friendly matches against Bangladesh on home ground.
Under the FIFA window, the friendly matches between Nepal and Bangladesh are scheduled for September 6 and 9 at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
Bista, who has been playing for Nepal for a decade, and Aditya, who is making his debut in the senior team, are excited to play at Dasharath Stadium in the national jersey. This is especially significant because the Nepalese team will be playing at Dasharath Stadium after a long hiatus.
I can’t describe the feeling of playing at Dasharath Stadium. We are very excited,” Bista says.
Recently, Bista has not performed particularly well, either for the national team or at the club level. Moreover, it has been a long time since he scored for the country.
So, Anjan is preparing to show his best performance this time.
“It has been a long time since I played fully fit, which is why I haven’t performed well recently. Now I am preparing to give my best,” he says.
Meanwhile, Aditya Shakya is thrilled to make his national team debut on home ground.
“I am extremely excited. It’s been a long time since the national team played at Dasharath Stadium,” Shakya said. “I urge all the fans to believe in us. We will perform well this time.”
Coming from a footballing family, Shakya had dreamed of playing for the national team since childhood, and that dream is now about to come true.
“It was a dream from childhood. I was extremely happy when I learned I had been selected for the national team. At first, I was a little scared. Growing up in a football environment, I always felt some pressure to reach the national team,” Shakya says.
Even after making it to the national team, Shakya feels there is still much to accomplish.
“It doesn’t mean everything is done. Now we have to win the game against Bangladesh,” he adds.
Golden opportunity for Anjan Bista
Anjan Bista, being one of the top scorers, always comes up whenever Nepal plays.
Now, he has an opportunity to set a record. This opportunity could also bring added pressure. It has been a long time since Bista scored for the national team. Still, he has the chance to score at home and set a record. Bista had scored a hat-trick at Dasharath Stadium in a friendly match against Bangladesh.
“I don’t usually put pressure on myself for goals. But it has been a long time since I scored for Nepal. I think this is the best time,” he says.
With no A-Division League in Nepal, senior players from captain Kiran Chemjong to Anjan Bista have recently been signed by Bangladeshi clubs. After these friendly matches, they will go play in the Bangladeshi league.
Bista mentioned that the lack of a league in Nepal has affected players. Even if players go abroad, football activities should continue in Nepal.
“Without an A-Division League and regular football, it’s very difficult for the national team,” Bista says. “Perhaps the increasing trend of players going abroad is due to the lack of football in Nepal. I hope the league will start soon.”
This time, the national team has a mix of senior and junior players, and the coach is coordinating the team well, according to Anjan. He also noted that the new players are performing well.
Alongside Shakya, defender Amit Lama is making his debut, while young forward Samir Tamang is returning to the senior team.
Playing at Dasharath Stadium after two years
The Nepal national team is set to play an international match at Dasharath Stadium after nearly two years.
The last time Nepal played there was on November 21, 2023, against Yemen in the FIFA World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. Nepal lost that match 2-0.
Since then, only women’s national team and club-level matches have been held at Dasharath Stadium; no men’s national team games have taken place.
Due to issues with the pitch, security arrangements, and floodlights, Nepal had not been able to host international matches at home. For World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, Nepal played its home matches against Bahrain and UAE abroad.
Similarly, for the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers against Malaysia, the first home match was scheduled in Nepal but had to be swapped to Malaysia due to the condition of the stadium.
However, Dasharath Stadium is still ineligible to host AFC qualifier matches, which means Nepal cannot play home matches against Malaysia and Vietnam.
Official FIFA and AFC-sanctioned matches will not immediately take place at Dasharath Stadium. But international friendlies within the FIFA window will be held there.
According to ANFA Competition Director Sanjiv Mishra, friendly matches can be played at the stadium if both countries agree.
“It’s not that international matches cannot be held at Dasharath Stadium. When Nepal plays Bangladesh in a friendly under FIFA International Window, FIFA approval is obtained through the FIFA TIER form,” Mishra said at a press conference organized by ANFA on Monday (September 1). “But, the requirements of AFC and FIFA tournaments, Asian Cup qualifiers, and FIFA World Cup qualifiers have not been met.”
Mishra also stated that the SAFF Women’s Club Championship will be organized at Dasharath Stadium in November.
Additionally, preparations are underway to host the SAFF Championship in April 2026 on a home-and-away basis, in which case some matches will be held at Dasharath Stadium, pending approval from the SAFF competition committee.
