Footballer Shrestha calls time on his international career

Nepal: Nepal national team footballer Sujal Shrestha announced his international retirement on Thursday evening through a Facebook post.

                              photo: TKP

The 31-year-old Shrestha, following in the footsteps of more than three dozen Nepali footballers, chose Australia as a destination for a secured future. Addressing his fans and well-wishers, he wrote: “I feel that it is the right time for me to take international retirement.”

Shrestha, also the captain of Machhindra Club, flew to Australia along with his club-mate and national team defender Ranjit Dhimal Thursday night. He was not in the national squad that is currently playing in the “Three Nations Cup” at home, following an injury he picked up during the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League match against Church Boys United Club.

Shrestha, a product of ANFA Academy, made his international debut against Bhutan at an international friendly in 2011. Since then, he has been a key member of the squad and has won 45 official international caps for the country. He has scored three goals in the national jersey and his last appearance for the national side was against Pakistan during an international friendly in November last year.

“Eleven long years, 51 games and the country’s flag in my heart—I feel really proud to have represented my country,” Shrestha wrote. “Amid the thick and thin, titles and some disappointing moments in memory, I announce my retirement from the national team.”

He added: “It was a great honour for me to wear the national jersey for such a long time, which I did with pride and passion. The youngsters and current members of the national team are very much capable and talented. I am very much confident that they will not let the country’s flag down.”

Known as a true gentleman in football, Shrestha is one of the most successful footballers of the country—both at the domestic and international levels. He has won four ‘A’ division league titles, including two each with Machhindra and Manang Marshyangdi Club. He also captained ‘A’ division league champions Machhindra to title last season and was an influential member of the squad the previous year when they won their first ever top tier title.

Shrestha had taken over the national team’s captaincy during the team's international friendly against Myanmar in November 2017. Under his leadership, Nepal national U-23 team retained the men’s football title at the 2019 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, and was also a key member of the team that won AFC Solidarity Cup in 2016. He scored a goal against Macau in the final.

Though he played as a midfielder for most of his career, Shrestha was deployed as a defender by coach Bal Gopal Maharjan during the 2019 SAG after Bikash Khawas picked up an injury during the tournament.

Since then, he had been playing both as defender and midfielder as per the team’s requirements, although Nepal’s outgoing coach Abdullah Almutairi preferred him more as a defender than a winger or midfielder.

“I thank all my fans and well-wishers who supported me with applause and cheers. Also, my gratitude to the coaches who believed in me and gave me a regular place in the team,” Shrestha added.