By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Nov. 28 : Association of Nepalese Alumni from Australia (ANAA) and Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) played a friendly football match on Saturday to mark the beginning of the 16-day campaign to end the violence against women at ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur on Saturday.

An umbrella organisation of sports journalists throughout the country, NSJF won 3-1 the friendly carrying the slogan - Stop Violence against Women. Both teams fielded their male and female players to mark the campaign.

The friendly was organised by Saathi, a non-government organisation, in association with Australian Embassy of Nepal, NSJF, ANAA and All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

Addressing the event Sajani Amatya president of Saathi said that they chose the football to start their campaign because it is the most popular game in the country and teams comprising of male and female represents equality and co-existence between the genders.

Australian ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk said that she was saddened by violence being perpetuated against women in society despite decades of efforts to end it. “This year marks the 30-year anniversary of 16-day Violence against Women campaign.

Every third women are facing gender based violence whether in Australia or Nepal. Let’s stop violence against women and girl,” ambassador Felicity Volk said while addressing the event.

Saathi’s former president Bandana Rana recalled that the domestic football governing body ANFA declared equal salary for both male and female national players under initiation of Saathi. “There have been a lot of changes in terms of gender equality in ANFA since we first started partnership in 2011.

In terms of today’s match outcome, there will be a winner and a loser. But our goal today is message of fair play not only in ground but everywhere and a commitment against women’s violence.” Saathi former president Rana said.

ANFA general secretary Indra Man Tuladhar said that ANFA has started involving the campaign in association with Saathi about a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Prajwol Shakya, Gaurav Phuyal and Abhinav Joshi netted one goal apiece for the winning side while Niru Thapa scored consolation goal for Association of Nepalese Alumni from Australia (ANAA) in the friendly match.