Newly elected ANFA : Nothing but old wine in a new bottle

Ganesh Thapa’s electoral success was never in doubt.  No wonder he got himself re-elected unopposed for the umpteenth time without breaking a sweat.

He has been   at the helm of power for so long that I have lost count of the number of times he has got elected to the office.

Obviously, Thapa had the election set up in his favor, making   sure   he was unchallenged.  At the end of the day, as expected, his triumph   was a mere formality.

This   proves the supposedly democratic ANFA can be so blatantly undemocratic when it comes to   elections. In fact, nobody gives a damn   about what goes in the football body. Not even   the National Sport Council   or the   Sports Ministry that acts   like passive bystanders.

It’s a   shame   no one challenged   Thapa’s   re-election bid. A united front candidate backed by football clubs and national players could have made a big difference. Instead, they let him have a cakewalk to yet another term.

The latest election success renders Thapa the chance to further consolidate his grip over ANFA and   extend his unsuccessful governance into a third decade. It’s hard to believe   that he has been the President for this long.

Up to this point he has had his way because of the lack of   checks and balances on his administration. Had the national media   honestly played the watchdog role, perhaps, Thapa would not have governed as an authoritarian.

We all know by now, most of them have failed in their duties as responsible journalists. As a matter of fact, Thapa has been directly involved in coercion aimed to intimidate and silence reporters. As a result, they have shockingly refrained   from overt criticisms of him.

They just do not have the gall to report or write about his failed leadership, high handedness and wrong doings. Most deals and decisions take place behind closed doors of ANFA, allowing corruption to go unchecked and unpunished.

They literally have turned a blind eye and allowed him have his way and dictate terms.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the main stream media   has   published reports critical of   Thapa, over the years.

The   brilliant investigative   report by Raju Ghising about Thapa’s botched leadership and scandals   that appeared in “Kantipur” recently   was a blockbuster.

He deserves high praise for courageously reporting the inside story of exposing the ANFA boss.   He is an example for all, and hopefully others will follow suit.

Prior to that well- known TV host Vijay Kumar Pandey had Thapa in the hot seat, but the interview was a huge disappointment. 

Contrary   to expectations, Pandey, known for his forthright, aggressive and abrasive style of interview let Thapa off the hook. He failed to push him hard on hot -button issues like misappropriation of funds, bribery charge, autocratic & failed leadership,  intimidating journalists, manipulation of elections and so forth.

Everybody knows Thapa demonizes his critics and how much he hates criticism even if it means constructive ones. In other words he just cannot take criticism.

Let us not forget that no one ever pushed him into office. It was his personal decision to take up the challenge and responsibility to govern the football body. If he cannot quit, he should stop complaining, this is what he chose.

Although he   pledged his commitment to develop   football in Nepal, he   has failed to deliver his promises, by and large.

One of his biggest mistake has been the non- inclusion of real professionals with plenty of experience and expertise in his   management team. He has always hand-picked either his loyalists or some of his critics to silence them.

Since then, he has been clinging to power through deceit, corruption and the silencing of the media. The newly elected ANFA is nothing but old wine in a new bottle.

Had he been sincere, dedicated, professional and totally focused to his goals, perhaps, his contribution to Nepali football could have been significant and an example by now.

The only way to make him responsible, accountable and transparent is by exerting pressure on him. But all of that is possible only through the cooperation and collective efforts of the main media, national players, clubs and fans.

Otherwise, it will be just another futile four years of Thapa’s style of governance.