MMC roaster needs shake up

I know I am late in writing  about Manang Marshyangdi Club’s  performance in the 2nd Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup  Championship in Chittagong,Bangladesh.Bear with me.

We already know Manang Marshyangdi Club’s (MMC)  run of championship titles abruptly ended after going down to TC Sports  Club Maldives, the eventual winners.

Custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar’s uncharacteristic error towards the fag end of the game and poor finish resulted in a bitter loss for heavily favoured MMC.Besides, man of the match Nepal’s number one goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong who excelled under the bar made crucial saves denying the opposition goals.

Star-studded MMC went into the match with  a clear edge over the youthful Maldives outfit and enjoyed territorial advantage for the most part.

They had the lion’s share of ball possession,created a host of scoring chances but failed to cash in.They only have themselves to blame. They  were guilty of letting the opponent hang around the game a little too long and  had to pay a heavy price for it.

It was clearly a missed opportunity for MMC. On the other hand ,the Islanders deserve every bit of praise for the success. They stood firm to the end,  and players’ never give up attitude,effort, energy and endeavor made a world of  difference.

Their victory was not a product of luck.They  proved themselves worthy winners by registering  a hard fought  win over  the red-hot favourite Korean side in the final.

Moving forward, now is the time for MMC management to have a hard look at the team’s performance. The coach needs to  evaluate, review  and analyze team and individual performance to identify weaknesses and strengths.

Certainly the coach knows all the grey  areas and where his team stands. The  current squad,no doubt, has been experiencing  spectacular domestic success and will continue to be dominant.

That being said,  based on MMC’s  recent performance and result in Bangladesh ,  I am of the opinion that  they are   not quite good enough for the  next level, especially  international challenges.The setback should be an eye opener to the coach.

By and large,  Coach Gurung’s boys  struggled, both offensively and defensively. The lack of scoring when it mattered most was a familiar sight.

Nigerian recruit Olawale O Afeez  has been in great goal scoring form  for  the most part.  Apparently the team is   being  over  reliant  on him to score goals ,and the other strikers have struggled to live up to expectations.

The  coach cannot deny the fact his side needs  a roster shake up to become more competitive and  for better outcomes in international competitions   for  the  long run.

The offensive line must improve and do a better job.  To make it sharper and productive he  has to  bring in fresh talents who  are able to produce more than ever.

For the most part, the defensive performance has been far from solid and in need of major improvements. Frequent defensive breakdowns underlines  the team’s  suspect defense, which needs to be corrected.

Deemed financially sound  by many MMC has been making contribution to Nepali football for long.  Every year they crisscross the country to participate in domestic tournaments and occasionally compete internationally.

With the exception of Pokhara based Sahara Club,like most clubs  it is  hard to believe that the country’s top club  is without a  youth setup or football academy. In addition, let alone minimum training facilities  and infrastructure , they do not even have  their own training ground.

I reckon it is time for MMC to give serious consideration  to  making significant investment in infrastructure along with a football academy for their  sustainability, future development and to produce,develop,nurture their own talents.

If MMC is truly worried and concerned about the direction of Nepali football,they must assume more responsibility and  lead from the front to deal with the dysfunctional All Nepal Football Association (ANFA),largely responsible for the decline in football and sorry state of club football.

Although   football clubs have been badly let down by ANFA,  it does not appear that they   are on the same page, fighting for  a common cause. There is disunity despite commonality in issues  and interests, and there is  still no sign of the clubs finding  common ground and forging a united front  to challenge ANFA.

The clubs are sharply divided along political lines and have done little to help their cause. In other words, they are deliberately  hurting their own cause. They are aware of the  damage ANFA  has done to Nepali football all these years .

Yet, they continue to  turn a blind eye to  ANFA’s intransparency , incompetence, mismanagement  and unaccountability in governance. As a  result of this , clubs and football are the biggest losers. It is fair to say their woes are largely of their own making and will only get worse.

It is high time for clubs to come together, work hand in hand , rise above petty and selfish politics,narrow vested interests for the betterment and progress of Nepali football.