Gyotuki Koji started his stint as Nepal coach in earnest on Tuesday with the first day of the national team closed-camp called on for their March 27 friendly against Malaysia U-22.

Koji, a Japanese, was appointed the coach of national team early this March but was yet to look after the national footballers due to a busy domestic schedule. He had watched Nepali footballers in the recently concluded domestic knockout tournaments before calling on 44 footballers in the preliminary squad on Sunday. Nepal are playing Malaysia U-22 in Kuala Lumpur in their first friendly after their triumphant campaigns in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh and South Asian Games in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, a six-day Anfa Refereeing Course began in Hetauda  on Tuesday. A total of 27 participants from Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Bara, Sindhuli, Rautahat, Parsa, Chitwan, Dhading and Makwanpur are attending the course. Ex-Fifa referees Shree Ram Ranjitkar, Shyam Lama and Gajendra Man Singh are conducting the course.