Protection of Nepali football, welfare of players’ paramount

Unsurprisingly there is trouble brewing on the horizon in All   Nepal Football Association, once again.

This is nothing new under the sun for a long time football watcher like me. I anticipated it. It was only a matter of time before this happened.

Since the reinstatement of suspended All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) executives, nothing positive has changed in the governance style and attitude of officials running the show.

Acting President of ANFA Narendra Shrestha continues to govern with the same failed policies of corrupt, disgraced ANFA President Ganesh Thapa.

Mr. Shrestha and his faction have literally shown no interest, whatsoever, to work in tandem with the reinstated officials.

They have ridiculously distanced themselves from the rebel group, isolating and denying them from exercising their rights to become part of the administration's day-to-day affairs.

There appears to be a clear violation of the statute, indeed. The matter of the fact is that they do not give a hoot about it.

It has become blatantly clear that their actions speak louder than words that are condemnable.

They are hell bent on preventing them from having their say in administrative, management and policy issues, no matter what.

Mr. Shrestha has been accused of being a puppet of Mr. Thapa. It does seem that way to me. It has been that way since Mr. Thapa’s ignominious exit from the football body.

We all know, from behind his curtains Mr. Thapa brazenly runs

the show in ANFA. He is the puppet master and Mr. Shrestha   does what he wants him to do.

On the other hand, the passivity displayed by the group headed by ANFA Vice President Karma Tsering Sherpa to fight back has simply stupefied me, and at the same time leaves me befuddled and doubting their motives to get back into the football body.

The hard, painstaking and exhausting efforts they under took to topple Mr. Thapa was a watershed in the history of Nepali football, which was an accomplishment in itself.They must make sure it is not left to go to waste.

They ought to remind themselves that they are back in the football body to serve a purpose and every effort must be made toward fulfilling the goal.

That said, ANFA is still controlled by Mr. Thapa's sycophants who are in the majority.  They are firmly entrenched in power and unwilling to compromise an inch of their interests.

If they are allowed to thrive and do things their own way, they would consolidate their position further and the landscape of Nepali football is bound to remain unchanged.

The stakes are high, and the upcoming ANFA election carries hugely important stakes, especially for the entire Nepali football community.

If the same people in power prevail in the election, which is highly likely, it would be a disaster for football in the country.

Mr. Sherpa and his colleagues must up the ante if they want to achieve what they want. They have to apply pressure on Mr. Shrestha for as long as it takes.

Finally, under pressure ANFA has agreed to hold the executive meeting (long overdue) to discuss and address issues like the upcoming election and the controversial ANFA statutes, with great reluctance.

The recent change in the government might have prompted ANFA leadership to hold the executive meeting.

On the question of the controversial statutes, Mr. Sherpa must do everything to deal with it and enforce amendments to ensure election is fair.

The protection of Nepali football and welfare of the players are paramount and there can be no compromise.

The future of Nepali football   will almost certainly hinge on the outcome of the upcoming ANFA election.