INTRODUCTION

Nepali National team´s assiduous striker Anil Gurung signed a lucrative contract with Indian league´s Shillong Lajong on Friday. Anil got affiliated to the club for three years at the cost of Rs 63 lakhs.

NRT´s forward Anil recently returned from London after a successful three months´ trial at the fifth division club Woking. As Anil was forced to return home after he was denied work permit in UK, he instantly got a good offer from the Indian league. This is the largest remuneration that any Nepali player has been offered till date. At a time when home football is at an all time low since the last three years, the offer Anil received has become a hot topic. Anil´s success has also become a source of inspiration for other players at home.

How did Anil, a product of Pokhara´s Sahara Club, get such an offer? The efforts of All Nepal Football association (ANFA)´s co-chairman Lalit Krishna Shrestha and Sahara Club´s member Sudarsan Ranjit deserve the credit for Anil´s success. But Anil´s own capabilities, talent and diligence is the main reason behind his success.

Besides this, the role of Saurabh Rai, a resident of Kalimpong, who currently works in Indian Football Players Association, is also significant. Here is an account that myrepublica.com received, in Rai´s own words, about how he managed to recruit Anil in Shillong Lajong:

I saw Anil for the first time during the 29th edition of Governor´s Gold Cup held in Paljor Stadium of Gangtok, Sikkim, about two years ago. Anil was wearing jersey number 10 of Nepali team NRT. All of his games were exemplary. I was impressed by his performance. I became his ardent admirer after seeing his first match.
His touch on ball itself was different and controlled as compared to other players. His relentless efforts, right judgment in air ball! Perfect heading and extraordinary skills to score were enough to impress a football freak like me.

I felt that this boy had the capability to play in every big club of India. At that time I couldn´t do anything for Anil as I had no influence over Indian football. Otherwise, I would have asked him if he was interested to play in India. That was my desire. But when I started working for G Sports, I got acquainted with influential people from the Indian football. A good bond developed between me and Shillong Lajong´s Larsing Ming, a football connoisseur.

When Lajong got promoted to Indian I league, Ming started to think seriously about the information of the player that I had given. Whenever I gave some suggestion regarding the need of players for the club he used to consider them seriously and implement them immediately. The same thing happened in Anil´s case as well. I had asked for a special request for Anil´s trial which Ming approved. But he told me to wait for sometime as the decision regarding quota of foreign players to be included in Indian league had not been finalized. Finally, Anil got the opportunity to join the club as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) gave permission after two months for the clubs of I league to keep one Asian player in their team.

Ming called me on my cell phone and told me to bring Anil to Shillong for trial on the very day that AIFF ruled the decision. Then I immediately called Nabil Three Star Club´s chairman Lalit Krishna Shrestha but I came to know that Anil had gone to England for trial. The news disappointed me for some time but I had some hopes of bringing Anil to Shillong if he couldn´t pass the trial in England.

Anil performed well in England as per my wish but had to return due to some problem.

I called Lalit dai as soon as I heard that Anil was returning to Nepal and got his number. I met him on the same day that he returned to Nepal and he agreed to come to Shillong.

I have never met Anil personally but I can claim with confidence that he is a good human being just like he is a good player. I had a feeling that he is a gentleman from the way he talked with me in phone. I want to welcome him for a successful career in Indian football. I was his admirer, I am and I will always remain so. I pray to God for his prosperity.

SLFC vs Dempo: Federation Cup

Federation Cup: Playing Against East Bengal Was Difficult - Shillong Lajong's Anil Gurung

The Nepal star spoke to Goal.com...

One of the biggest names in Nepal football, Anil Gurung, who now plies his trade in India with Shillong Lajong, has made a name for himself in his short spell with the north eastern club so far after a series of impressive displays in the Federation Cup. The highlight of his time in India has been the fantastic strike against Dempo SC.

Ahead of the crucial finals against East Bengal, Gurung speaks on a variety of subjects including which teams he has found the toughest to play against...

Goal.com: How has your journey been in India so far? What brought you here in the first place?

Gurung: It’s been fantastic so far. After coming back from England, Shillong Lajong called me to have a trial at the club. After some 15 days of trials, coach Stanley Rosario and the club’s secretary, Larsing Ming were impressed and we inked a deal. I always wanted to play abroad. After failing to play in UK due to working VISA issues, I was forced to come back. But, fortunately, luck was there.

Goal.com: What do you make of Indian football of what you have seen? Is it very physical?

Gurung: Indian football is physical. We play technical game in Nepal. We don’t want to kick and run. We play very academic football - short passes, skill and dodging. But, that doesn't only make complete football. Indian football is improving day-by-day.

Goal.com: What do you have to say on the infrastructure here when compared to your esteemed country?

Gurung: Indian infrastructure is better in compared to us. We don't have too many grounds as our country is hilly. We hardly have natural turfs. We have very little football stadiums. But, the football craze is high as it is the number one game in our country.

Goal.com: Was it a relief to have scored your first goal in India and that too against a top club like Dempo?

Gurung: Yes, I was very happy when I scored a goal against such a big team. I’ve heard a lot about Sunil Chhetri. But, football is a team game and I believe in team spirit. I am hopeful that we would play excellent game in second phase of the I-league.

Goal.com: Which team did you find as the toughest so far in India to play with?

Gurung: So far, playing against East Bengal was difficult.