The newly appointed head coach of the Nepali men’s football team, Matt Ross, on Tuesday called a 30-player initial squad to face Singapore and Malaysia this month. The All Nepal Football Association has also finalised his coaching staff.

Nepal is playing a friendly against Singapore on March 21 before facing Malaysia on March 25 in the first leg of the third round of the AFC Asian Cup-2027 Qualifiers.

While talking to journalists on Monday at a ceremony held to reveal Ross as the head coach, ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah and Ross stated that they were in discussion regarding the head coach’s coaching staff, which was expected to be filled with foreign faces.

According to ANFA, Salyan Khadgi and Binod Maharjan have been appointed as the Assistant Coach and Goalkeeping Coach, respectively. Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Karki is the manager with Nakul Hamal Thakuri as his assistant; Nishant Joshi is appointed the physiotherapist.

“The coaching assistants have been selected based on the consent of head coach Ross,” Shah said. “They have been appointed to serve until the game against Malaysia.”

30 players called

Ross has also created an initial squad and called 30 players for it.

“Ross was in Nepal for around a month before we inked an agreement,” Shah told the Post. “He had been following domestic leagues throughout the country. He selected the players based on his observation.”

According to ANFA, Kiran Kumar Limbu, Bishal Sunar, Deep Karki, Abhishek Baral and Anjal Shrestha are the five goalkeepers called by Ross.

Similarly, the defenders in the list include Ananta Tamang, Tshering Lama, Rohit Chand, Bimal Panday, Sanish Shrestha, Randip Poudel, Sumit Shrestha, Anjan Rai, Abhishek Limbu, Aashish Gurung and Ashok Khawas.

Laken Limbu, Rohan Karki, Mani Lama, Bharat Khawas, Arik Bista, Manish Dangi, Ayush Ghalan and Kritish Ratna Chhunju are the midfielders.

Among strikers, Gillespye Jung Karki, Anjan Bista, Samir Tamang, Dinesh Henjan, Subash Thakuri Bam and Nirajan Dhami were called in.

“The selected players are requested to report to ANFA Complex by 5 pm on March 4, Tuesday,” ANFA notified after publishing the list Tuesday morning.

Players shuffled

Out of the 23 players in the squad against Yemen in the second round of the World Cup’s Asian Qualifiers in June 2024, Ross has called 16 players in his initial squad—Kiran, Ananta, Tshering, Rohit, Gillespye, Bharat, Laken, Manish, Sanish, Mani, Ayush, Abhishek Baral, Bimal, Sumit, Abhishek Limbu and Bishal.

However, the coaching staff includes all new faces. Acting head coach Nabin Neupane had Chetan Ghimire as assistant coach and Nabin Maharjan as goalkeeping coach for the Nepal vs Yemen fixture last year.

Nepal’s joint leading men’s goal scorer, Anjan Bista, who did not travel to Yemen, has also been called by Ross. If he gets in the final squad, Anjan has the chance to become the highest goal scorer for Nepal’s men’s football team. He currently has 13 goals, equalling Nirajan Rayamajhi and Hari Khadka’s record.

Bista will be competing for a spot as a striker with not only experienced players like Gillespye, Samir and Dinesh, but also two emerging youngsters—Subash Bam Thakuri and Nirajan Dhami.

Subash and Nirajan have been making names in the under-age categories with the former leading as the captain as well. Moreover, Subash, now 17, currently plays for Siniloan in the Philippines’ 7s Super League; he reached the Philippines to train under a scholarship a few months ago.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Ross, who signed a one-year contract on Sunday, said he was determined to take Nepal as close as he can to the Asian Cup.