Ritesh Thapa

Ritesh Thapa
Personal information
Full name Ritesh Thapa
Date of birth (1986-04-02) 2 April 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Itahari, Nepal
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Nepal Police Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Three Star Club
2004– Nepal Police Club
International career
2003–2015 Nepal 12 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ritesh Thapa (Nepali: रितेश थापा; born 2 April 1986) is a former footballer from Nepal who played as goalkeeper. He made his first appearance for the Nepal national football team in 2003.[2] He played for Nepal Police Club.

Club career[edit]

Thapa was born in Itahari, Nepal. He started his career with the Three Star Club, but joined the Nepal Police Club four years later in 2004. He won many achievements with the Nepali Police Club, including a runners-up medal at the 2007 AFC President's Cup. He also won the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League four times with the Nepali Police Club.[3]

International career[edit]

Thapa made his debut for Nepal on September 29, 2003 although it was a dark day in his country's football history. Nepal were playing South Korea in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification and lost by a record 16-0. Thapa came on as a half-time substitute for goalkeeper Ujjwal Manadhar in the game.[3]

Thapa played two games at the 2012 Nehru Cup, picking up one yellow card.[4]

He has made twelve appearances for his country so far.

Honours[edit]

Playing style[edit]

Thapa is known as a hardworking and dependable player in the squad and always has a positive attitude. He however lacks concentration during games.[3]

Personal life[edit]

Thapa is married.[3]

Match fixing allegations[edit]

On 14 October 2015 Thapa, along with teammates Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Bikash Singh Chhetri, and former Three Star Club coach Anjan KC were arrested by the Nepal Police on suspicion that the group was responsible for match-fixing at the domestic and international level.[5][6][7][8] On 19 October 2015 Rai and the four others were banned by the Asian Football Confederation.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ FIFA.com
  2. ^ Ritesh Thapa at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ a b c d "Ritesh Thapa, Goal Nepal profile". Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Ritesh Thapa, Goal.com profile". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  5. ^ Keshav P. Koirala; Anil Ghimire (14 October 2015). "Nepal national team footballers arrested on charge of match-fixing in national and international games". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  6. ^ Charchit Dahal (14 October 2015). "Four Nepali national team football players have been arrested in the capital on charge of match fixing in National and International football matches". Sports Arena. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  7. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Nepal Police Nabs Nepal Skipper Sagar Thapa & Four Others For Match Fixing!". GoalNepal.com. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Metropolitan Police Crime Division Chief Sarbendra Khanal: We Have Strong Evidence Against Them; They Have Decived Our Country And We Won't Spare Them". GoalNepal.com. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Asian Football Confederation bans five in match-fixing investigation". Association Press. ESPN. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.