By Sachit Subba • Off-Field • Jul 29, 2026 15:17 PM • 70 views
PENANG, Malaysia — Football is uniting for a humanitarian cause in Malaysia as N Penang FC and Australia-based Nepbourne FC prepare to clash in a high-profile international friendly aimed at funding medical treatment for injured Nepalese national player Asish Rai.
The charity fixture will take place on August 2, 2026, in Penang, bringing together two diaspora clubs for an initiative rooted in sportsmanship and solidarity. With Rai currently sidelined and undergoing medical care, the match serves as a crucial fundraising platform to alleviate his financial burden.
"This is not just a game between two football clubs," N Penang FC President Ankit Thapa emphasised while announcing the initiative. "It is a unified movement to support and save our talented national player during a deeply challenging time."
Thapa confirmed that every single unit of net proceeds gathered from the match will be handed over to Rai. The campaign reflects N Penang FC's ongoing commitment to leveraging sports as a vehicle for social responsibility and community welfare.
The organisers have issued a broad rallying call to the Nepalese community living across Malaysia, local football lovers, and well-wishers to fill the stands on matchday. Beyond providing financial assistance, the event highlights the global football community's power to step up when a national representative faces a serious physical setback. N Penang FC further reaffirmed its intention to keep driving similar social welfare projects through football in the future.
