KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Promising youth footballer Sagar Pariyar died on Thursday morning at the Annapurna Neuro Hospital, Maitighar. ANFA U-14 player Pariyar was critically injured in a bus accident at Maheshkhola of Dhading on Tuesday which had also claimed the life of his teammate Ranjan Thapa.
Left back Pariyar from Waling, Syangja, had sustained serious head injury in the accident and breathed his last at 7:33 am.
He never gained consciousness after the accident. Pariyar was cremated at Pashupati Aryaghat on Thursday.
Pariyar´s funeral procession was attended by National players, former players, ANFA officials, ANFA Academy players, coaches, National Sports Council officials, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, among others.
ANFA President Ganesh Thapa drapes Pariyar´s body with ANFA flag. (Photo: Keshab Thoker)
Pariyar was the youngest son in his family.
Four U-14 players of the academy were heading for Kathmandu after sitting for SLC supplementary exams. They all were returning to Kathmandu ANFA Academy.
Milan Hitang and Samrat Blon were also injured in the accident. According to ANFA officials, both of them are out of danger and receiving treatment at Star Hospital and Shahid Memorial Hospital in the capital.
Pariyar´s father Chudamani who is tailor by profession recalled at the Aryaghat that his son had last visited home after taking his regular SLC exams on the first week of April. "He was very bright and intelligent," recalled an emotional Chudamani. "Sagar never liked me smoking. He used to snatch and throw cigarette whenever I lit it at home and even did not allow anyone to smoke at home."
Meanwhile, Sagar´s current coach Bal Gopal Maharjan remembers him as disciplined, sincere, physically strong and polite player. "Now it will be tough to find his replacement. He had played in the same position for the last three years in Butwal Academy and was training under me."
"It will be difficult to find a replacement immediately for the next tournament which Nepal is likely to compete in Japan in October. Though he was a defender but also made good attacks.
He was confident in his position," Maharjan recalled adding, "I was the person to select him for academy some four years ago. He was training with me at the Satdobato Academy for the last six months and was like a family member. We are very sad to lose him."
One of Sagar´s best friend Nishan Dhungana who had entered the Butwal academy on same day on 2066 BS Ashad 29 said that he was very friendly and good person.
"Sagar never fought with anyone at the academy. Though he was not very bright in studies he had a good knowlege of other issues," said sentimental Dhungana. "I don´t think I can get a friend like him. I feel its like a dream and he is still with me," said Dhungana.
Sagar´s roommate Shiva Subedi recalled that both of them played together during the U-14 Festival of Football.
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