With Nepal already immersed in the festive mood as the nation has been engulfed with Dashain celebrations, the national football team have touched down in the island continent of Australia to lock horns with the Asia Cup 2015 champions at the away fixture of the World Cup and Asian Cup Joint Qualification tournament set for October 10.

Custodian and national captain Chemjong himself has been away from his family since the tender age of 12 to pursue a career in football. The Dhankuta born stopper has kept the post for big clubs in Nepal including Machhindra, Three Star and Manang Marsyangdi while also playing for clubs abroad in Maldives and India.

“The match is of great significance for Nepali football. We indeed are going to miss Dashain as it is the biggest festival for us,” said Chemjong when asked how it feels to stay away from family during the festival. “I barely get to spend time with my mother as I am often out of Nepal. It is only through social media that I get to be in daily touch with her. This Dashain is going to be no different, but it certainly will be sour,” adds Chemjong who is a single child with just his mother in the family.

The national captain said that making sacrifices was the cornerstone for achieving the dreams and his dream has always been making Nepal proud through football. “Festivals are of great significance, but as professional athletes, we will enjoy and celebrate by playing football while trying to achieve a great result for Nepal. All of our team members will exchange greetings with the Nepali football fans and diaspora in Australia,” adds Chemjong.

Nepal forward Anjan Bista who had earlier missed Tihar to participate at the AFC Solidarity Cup in 2016 echoed Chemjong’s voices and said, “We will certainly miss home this Dashain but the Qualifier mission is of great significance. The responsibility we shoulder while representing our nation at the international tournaments certainly requires some sacrifices and it only makes us realize the magnitude of aspirations the football fans have from us.”

“As we are mentally prepared to face Australia, we will play our best to produce a good result. Our team is motivated to celebrate with a satisfactory result,” he shared.

Both captain Chemjong and Bista agree that the opportunity cost of missing out Dashain at home this year is somehow slightly compensated by the fact that Nepal is playing against Australia. The Socceroos have regularly featured at the FIFA World Cup since 2006 making their debut at the sport’s most coveted tournament back in

1974. They say that the chance like this does not come annually unlike Dashain and see it as an opportunity for

Nepali footballers to make a mark in international football community.

Chemjong and Bista acknowledged the fact that a win or even a draw against Australia and progressing to the next round of the World Cup Qualifiers would be historic, however urged the Nepali followers of the game to realize that results could often be elusive.

Footballers like other athletes often miss festivals at home, both Chemjong and Bista have enough anecdotes with their experiences. Both players extend their Dashain greetings to Nepalis at home and abroad and say that their unwavering support is what keeps them motivated.