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The number of Nepal’s international footballers  leaving for greener pastures,better opportunities and a secure  financial future abroad is on the rise.   Those who have already left were either in their prime or midway through their career. Do not be surprised if more  players follow suit. Whether  or not we agree,the steady flow of players leaving the country is unfortunate, troubling and a cause for concern for Nepal football. The majority of players who have migrated to Australia, the United States of America, European countries or elsewhere no longer play full-time competitive football. Speaking of professional or semi-professional leagues in the aforementioned countries,it is obvious that the standard is very high and extremely competitive. Getting into the professional  league for any player is very challenging and an uphill battle. Leave alone the first -tier league.Making  it into  the second-tier and further down is a tall order,especial...

  Expectant home fans packed the Dashrath Rangasala hoping to see Nepal make history against Bangladesh in the final of the South Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship in Kathmandu. Unfortunately,it was an evening of broken dreams,heartbreak and dejection for the partisan crowd and Team Nepal after a crushing 1-3 defeat at the hands of Bangladesh.They had a chance, and they let it go away.So near,yet so far. Following a historic victory over hot favorites India in the semifinal,Nepal’s odds of winning  the championship took a massive leap.   However, it was crucial that they translate high expectations into success,which did not happen. Instead they struggled quite a bit  and  came up well short of a winning performance.Also they failed to take home field advantage. They struggled  to control the tempo of the game throughout the match.While the offense lacked purpose, penetration and clinical finish,the midfielders disappointed largely. It is no ex...

A battle royal  between Nepal and Bangladesh  is  on the cards as they battle it out in the final of the South Asian Federation Football  Women’s Championship in Kathmandu Monday. Interestingly both sides are eyeing their maiden title.The wait for them has been long, and agonizing.  The day has finally dawned,and they are expected  to be firing on all cylinders to break the jinx. One team will bask in glory,while frustration, dismay and disappointment will prolong for the other at the end of the day. More  importantly, we will have a brand new South Asian champion.Given the performances, strengths and weaknesses of the two finalists, they are evenly matched in every department of the game. Nepal is ahead of Bangladesh in FIFA rankings,but it doesn’t really mean much.All that matters is delivering the goods.There  is no clear favorite  going into the final.  As a matter of fact, the championship match is delicately poised and either team ...

Mr.Sandeep Lamichhane, skipper of the men’s national cricket team of Nepal is in the news again. This time the highly rated spin maestro is under the spotlight not for his on field exploits but for a damaging and damming reason. Nepal’s first ever player to play in the  prestigious Indian Premier  League and other leagues in Australia,West Indies, Pakistan, Canada  and Afghanistan and Bangladesh is facing a career threatening charge. A  minor girl aged 17 has filed a police complaint against Lamichhane alleging him of raping her in a hotel room.She has accused him of drugging and raping her twice. Indeed, it is a serious allegation with grave consequences.The news has come like a bolt from the blue. When I learnt about the news,my initial reaction was absolute shock and disbelief. I told myself,how could he do such a thing? In the court of law he is innocent until proven guilty.One thing is certain,the police will conduct an investigation into the allegation. Whether...

The stage is all set for the  6th  edition of the South Asian Federation Football  Women’s Championship kickoff in Kathmandu, Tuesday. The championship aimed  at promoting and developing women’s football in South Asia started in 2010 in Bangladesh. After a gap of  three years,the tournament  is back.India,Nepal,Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka,Bangladesh  and Pakistan are competing for the region’s biggest prize. In retrospect,India has overwhelmingly dominated the tournament winning every edition.They have been  unshakable and unbeatable so far in the competition. Once again they are the firm favorites to win the title for a record sixth time and keep their domination intact. They are a formidable outfit with a mix of highly experienced and talented emerging youth players.   They boast a team consisting of  Soumya Guguloth and Grace Dangmei who play for Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia and FC Nasaf Qarshi,Uzbekistan respectively. Surprisingly, upcomin...