Sport
29 July, 2026
FLYING FIRST GAME: Upreti set for season, shines in first ever footy game
Shovan Upreti came to St Arnaud from Nepal two months ago and has already been talked into a game of Under 17s football.
THE Saints’ newest young recruit has made his mark already in his first time ever taking to the field.
Shovan Upreti came to St Arnaud from Nepal two months ago and has already been talked into a game of Under 17s football.
“My mates told me I had to give it a go,” he said.
“They told me at school that footy was a mixture between rugby, basketball and soccer... I’m not sure how right that is though. But I still had the best time, it was great to play with all my friends.”
Upreti said his friends didn’t leave him in the lerch, spending time teaching him the rules of footy on the school oval.
He then made it to his first training last Thursday night where he learnt as much as he could before his game against Birchip-Watchem on Saturday.
“It was great to learn how to play, how to defend,” he said
He said his previous sporting career really helped him keep up with the new code. “I played basketball and soccer before,” he said.
“I can see the similarities between them all.”
“Thankfully I was put up in forward, where I would usually play in other sports, so I was finding my way as we went.”
And while it wasn’t a big lead up, but was obviously enough as the youngster put a point on the board for the Saints.
“While it wasn’t the whole six points, it really did get my dopamine up,” he said. “But it just means I have something to work towards as we go along.”
He made so much of a mark that he earned himself a best on award.
Aunty Lexmi Chhetri said the family braved the cold to watch.
“We were surprised to see him play so well,” she said with a laugh. “But we’ll be there to support him from now on.”
Upreti said he was keen to keep playing for the rest of the season.
Read More: St Arnaud