Nepali Players Bat For Brazil

The much-awaited football festival, FIFA World Cup 2022, coincides with the Nepali parliament and provincial election day. After casting their votes on Sunday, Nepalis will be busy calculating a possible election result. To add to their discussion topics, the World Cup will also begin on Sunday night with host Qatar playing Ecuador.

According to the vote-counting trend, Nepali football fans' moods will swing from election outcomes to World Cup football results for one month.

The fever of the World Cup has already gripped the towns of Nepal. The sports shops in town are decked out in jerseys and flags of the World Cup teams. Restaurants and bars have prepared themselves to screen live football matches by decorating them with World Cup jerseys and flags. Kathmandu's denizens have already been caught up with World Cup fever. They have started decorating their homes with the logos of their favourite teams.

Favourite Teams, Players

Celebrities from different professions have started posting about their favourite teams and players on different social media platforms.

Watching the Qatar World Cup is meaningful for every footballer. They follow each and every activity of their teams and players. Due to the dominance of European football, Nepali sports players will bet on European football stars and their teams.

However, some players have also predicted that Brazil will win the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite player of the national football team’s main striker, Anjan Bista. This time around, Bista, who scored 11 goals to become the second-best goal scorer for Nepal, will be putting his money on the South American favourite, Brazil.

"I am a big fan of Brazilian star Neymar. So I will support Brazil this time. From South Africa, I am watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since then, I've been rooting for Portugal. "As the Brazil squad is very strong, I expect the five-time champions will lift the title for the sixth time."

The prolific striker of the Nepali women's football team, Sabitra Bhandari, is also supporting the most successful team of the World Cup, Brazil. Bhandari, popularly known as Samba, likes Portugal’s Cristiano as an individual player. Portugal is her second choice.

The top scorer of Nepali women's football is attracted to the skill of Brazilian footballers. "Brazil is my all-time favourite team in the World Cup. I am confident the Selecao will be completing the double hat trick of World Cup trophies."

However, she also wants to see her idol, Cristiano, lead Portugal to the final.

Former national team member and Coach Raju Kaji Shakya is a big fan of the Brazil team. Shakya has been following the FIFA World Cup since 1982.

"Brazil is always a title contender at the FIFA World Cup. But anything can happen in football. The weak nation has stunned title favourites during World Cup qualifying. Youthful Germany, France, and England are also the main title contenders in this edition.” 

"Even so, I am hopeful Brazil will win the World Cup," Shakya said.

Big Fan

Monday Kaji Shrestha, a South Asian Games double gold medalist in karate, is a big fan of Team Belgium. "I have been a big fan of Belgium for a long time because of striker Romelu Lukaku. However, I think Germany will clinch the title in Qatar. "They are a very strong team," Shrestha said.

National women's basketball team skipper Sadina Shrestha has been a supporter of Team England since she started following the World Cup. "My favourite footballers are Cristiano Ronaldo and Kante of France. I am unhappy for Kante, for he will miss the World Cup after sustaining a hamstring injury during the English Premier League.

Shrestha has no choice in this World Cup. "Either France or Brazil will take home the most coveted trophy." "I'm fine with both teams," Shrestha added.

(Khadka is Reporter at TRN)