Just another Kathmandu Football League

The ongoing    Kathmandu ‘A’ Division League football tournament in the capital is in full swing, and already it has produced a string of surprises so far.

It is   way too   early   to jump into   conclusions, however, should the unfancied   teams   continue  to perform consistently the competition  is bound to generate plenty of  excitement and unpredictability.

If  the trend  in the early goings of the  league holds, top notch teams  in the likes of  Nepal Police, Three Star, Nepal Army and Manang Marsyangdhi  should expect a strong and  tough opposition. I would go as far as to say   that the league is wide open.

The   first round saw lesser known clubs   like   Machindra FC, Madhyapur Youth Association, Simrik Sarsawti, Mahendra  Bansbari and   Sankata steal the thunder.They  have  played purposeful  football, and more importantly they have evenly matched their   star-studded  opponents toe to toe to this point.

Most of these clubs packed with   fresh upcoming talents alongside   a handful of foreign recruits have played well to earn applauds. That said, however, they have miles to go in order to leave their   mark   in the tournament.

So far, they  have looked very  positive, all geared up  and rearing to go. We will have to  wait and see how they cope with the pressure and  challenge in   the later stages of the competition. The key is to build on the momentum, and maintaining it.

Long as  they continue to rise to the occasion and perform with more confidence and gusto, they  have a good chance  at finishing in the top five. Also this is a great opportunity for the youngsters to show case their talent and captivate   national selectors’ attention.

Defending champion Nepal Police Club has looked a pale shadow of an average side. They have mightily struggled lately, and they were far from impressive in the last two tournaments (Ncell Cup and 2^nd Safal Pokhara Cup).

Their woes continue unabated, following two successive defeats in the ongoing league.I cannot imagine  the champion Club   struggling this badly. Right now they seemed  a team lost in the woods.

Despite everything, Coach Birat Krishna Shrestha is confident that his side will bounce back. I don’t see why they cannot, but it is possible unless they make a dramatic turnaround in their performance. I will say, though, they should not be written off at this early.

Without any shred of a doubt, the team to beat this season is star-studded Manang Marsyangdhi Club. With two titles under their belt this year, they are the firm   favorites   to win the league.

They did drop a   point, but they have done well to be back in win column. Coach Krishna Thapa has a balanced and well coordinated side, and   he is well positioned to propel his team to another success.     

Another   team in hunt   for the title is star packed Three Star Club. This year’s Sikkim Gold Cup runners-up outfit from Patan got off to a rocky start, slumping to a defeat.  Since then they have labored hard to avoid another defeat.They are yet to peak their form and must find their rhythm   to put themselves in contention for the title.

The Army side once a   force to reckon with in Nepali football is still a struggling lot. Veteran Coach Yugambar Suwal has to find ways to overcome his team’s mediocrity and poor showing.

APF, the third departmental team in the fray is a big disappointment. They have totally failed to make any headway so far.

The matter of truth is that the departmental teams should have done a much better job. I say this because, unlike the non departmental   clubs, they train around the year and have   access to decent training facilities.

Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force are the three sides in the tourney with one hundred percent local talent. Unfortunately, they have not really taken advantage of their position to scout fresh talent across the country.

If I am not mistaken, it is high   time   for   the management of the   respective team to get into serious thinking, serious planning, and serious preparation.  Also they need to put in place an effective recruiting   system and professional coaching staff.

Similarly, established clubs like RCT, NRT, JYC and FC have plenty of catching up to do. They have to show more consistency and extra commit themselves to deliver the goods.

Lately, RCT, NRT and JYC have raised some glimmer of hopes; however, they are left with plenty of ground work to cover.

Likewise, Himalayan Sherpa Club made a big splash on national football some years ago but seemed to have lost its mojo and struggling with performance.

One team that is at the receiving end is Boudha Club FC. They must put in a vastly improved performance in their remaining matches to escape the relegation axe.

The   presence of foreign players in the league is a good sign, no doubt. Most of the foreign recruits are average part time footballers, nonetheless, they have provided some spark to the competition.

Over all, it is turning out to be just another league lacking in quality. The tournament has so far evoked a lukewarm response, and the standard of umpiring has raised many eyebrows.

The problem arises   in the infrastructure and localization of the league. All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is guilty for failing to organize the National League, and denying football clubs outside the Kathmandu Valley   equal opportunities.