Kudos to Under-23 Team for winning Bangabandhu Gold Cup

Nepal has finally won an international football tournament, ending a 23-year drought.  Coincidentally, it was in the same soil, but different venue Nepal triumphed   against India in the famous final of the 1993 South Asian Federation Games.

It is a remarkable achievement by the youthful under-23 squad.  I congratulate the team and the entire coaching staff for winning the tournament. You have made us all proud. Great job, keep it up.

Against a physically formidable Bahrain, Nepal produced a strong performance and registered an emphatic 3-0 victory to annex the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament in Dacca, Bangladesh

Further more, Nepal was the only team to finish the competition undefeated.  It was a performance par excellence crowned by a successful championship. 

This accomplishment can be attributed to   a combination of   a superb collective effort and individual brilliance. The young lads displayed terrific energy, commitment, tenacity, fortitude, skills and fighting spirit.

There were some outstanding individual performances, Bikesh Kuthu in goal, forwards Bimal Gharti Magar, Nawayug Shrestha and Anjan Bista, midfielder Bishal Rai and Bikram Lama and defenders Aditya Chaudhary and Biraj Maharjan.

Besides, Nepal walked away with individual honors, as well. Nawayug Shrestha with 4 goals was the tournament’s top scorer, and he was also adjudged the best player of the competition.

Likewise, Bimal Gharti Magar’s masterful   performance against Bahrain in the final earned him the man-of-the match award.

The success has brought relief so great and so perceptible to all. After a dismal run in the   2015 South Asian Football Federation Championship in India, indeed, Nepal has made a stunning comeback.

The players performed consistently, aggressively and delivered under pressure, which made success possible.  Full credit goes to every member of the team for the tidy performance. I repeat here it was entirely due to their concerted efforts and hard work that yielded the desired outcome.

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) can in no way take the credit for it. It would be a shame if they did so otherwise.

At a time when Nepali football is struggling and at rock bottom, the Under-23   success has come at a very critical juncture   and assumed great importance.

The talent packed team has the potential to do even more, but have a long way to go, undoubtedly.

 In point of fact, the future success of national teams is entirely dependent on effective governance in ANFA, with a strong, knowledgeable and dynamic leadership, which we have not seen.

The present dysfunctional ANFA has been mainly responsible for Nepali football woes. They have made a mess of things, particularly under former ANFA President Ganesh Thapa.

Mr. Thapa is gone but under ANFA Acting President Narendra Shrestha, the governance and football structure remains largely unchanged, by and large,

Obviously, ANFA is not capable of self-reform, cannot carry out its responsibilities effectively and unprepared to meet future challenges.  Even more disturbing is the fact that, still. Mr. Thapa shadow looms large over the football body.

Forget not that Nepal football and footballers   have long suffered through the years from poor leadership and governance, financial mismanagement, and failure to invest in grass roots football. We have the same inept, incapable people running the show.

Just because the Under -23 team won the tournament, should not be a reason to ignore ANFA’s utter incompetence and failure that has cost Nepali football dearly.

I do not want to take away any credit from the victorious team. Do not get me wrong here. The truth is what it is. Today the biggest problem facing Nepal football is ANFA.

The next real big challenge for the national team is the upcoming South Asian Federation Games in India. They have yet another golden chance to prove themselves and regain the lost glory.

 ANFA ‘s decision to once again open its coffers in order to reward the triumphant team financially is a good move. The players   deserve every penny, however, even more importantly, the football body keeps its promise.

 Monetary rewards alone are not a viable solution to the problems that face Nepali football. More than ever, ensuring good governance in the management of football would be   critical to the success of Nepali football in the coming days.