SAFF Championship 2013: Nepal’s 15-year-old national hero

The euphoria surrounding SAFF Championship 2013 in Nepal has been immense with both the Nepal national team’s matches being witnessed by a capacity crowd at the Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu.

Almost every newspaper has carried the match reports on their front page with every local television channel also extensively covering the tournament. In general, the buzz in the landlocked country is about the whole team and even the coaching staff. But following yesterday’s game against Pakistan, the talk of the country is a certain 15-year-old named Bimal Gharti Magar.

Magar came on in the second half when Nepal were trailing 1-0 and already lost their star striker Anil Gurung through injury. The hosts had dominated the second half but were struggling to find the equaliser until stoppage time when Magar was at the right place and right time to find the back of the net.

While most fans outside Nepal may not have heard of Magar, the teenager had already become a popular name in Nepalese football largely thanks to his superb performances in the recently concluded u-16 SAFF Championship.

The equaliser against Pakistan has taken Magar’s popularity to greater heights and a visit to the team hotel on Wednesday morning confirmed that as he was flooded with media requests from local and foreign journalists. There was also a group of fans who presented him a special sketch.

Photo Credit: goalnepal.com

While most of his friends and classmates in school still have to worry about pocket money and homework, Magar has the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders which possibly is too daunting but understandable given the way the locals in Nepal follow their national team and players.

“I am excited but not nervous or under any pressure. Yesterday the coach just told me to give my best so I am delighted with my contribution,” said a shy Magar, who was polite and patient throughout while answering the queries from the media.

Magar idolises Lionel Messi among Nepali players is a big fan of Bijay Gurung but his rise to the fame has been so swift that he himself could act as an inspiration for budding footballers.

After being selected by ANFA (All Nepal Football Association) for one of their academies in Butwal four years ago, Magar made the headlines by inspiring Elite Boarding School to Subroto Cup success in New Delhi in 2011. In 2012 he impressed for Nepal at the AFC U-14 festival and was soon selected to join ANFA’s central academy in Kathmandu.

“Initially I started as a wide midfielder but soon I was trained how to play as a striker and I am enjoying playing there now,” he told Sportskeeda.

Magar’s progress impressed then Nepal head coach Krishna Thapa so much that the boy was handed his international debut at the age of 14 in a friendly against Bangladesh. Back in July this year, Magar finished top scorer of the SAFF U-16 Championship but failed to win the tournament as Nepal were beaten 1-0 by India.

He was only expected to play a bit part role at SAFF 2013 but already has made a huge impact off the bench and could even get to start against India tomorrow if Anil Gurung fails to pass a fitness test.

“We need a draw but we will play to win. It was good to play against India at the u-16 tournament and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s game as well,” he said.

Magar, who is currently in tenth standard, is still with ANFA but it’s only a matter of time before he is signed up by a top club in Nepal and off the field too endorsements should follow. The ANFA has a huge responsibility to ensure that the teenager doesn’t get carried away and continues his development.

The player himself wants to remain focused on SAFF 2013 for now but told Sportskeeda that he also intends to continue his education. Magar turns 16 on September 18 and as an early birthday present, he would be hoping to be part of history by helping Nepal win their first-ever SAFF Championship title.