Nepali Football in 2016: Ray of hope, good results, failed governance

Unlike past years, Nepali football threw up quite a few surprises that were heartening,disappointing and deplorable in 2016, both on  and off  the field.

The men’s national team was in the spotlight for the most part for their incredible winning streak and performance.All in all , it was a  remarkable year of international success.

Defying odds ,they played to their potential and managed to end the international tournament drought in style. They got off  to a  rousing start and  wrapped up the season on a high note, as well.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it was their  year, and they were the biggest  surprise blockbuster  package. The  team’s defiant, strong, bold performance won many hearts and minds.It was/is the  result of  their sheer commitment , determination, effort and hard work.

It is very clear that our  footballers have  the potential to play better, achieve bigger if given  the necessary support and a conducive  environment for progress.

The coaching staff deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. They did well to manage the motivation process of the team and get them going.

Diehard fans, (like yours truly) ) were relieved and  finally got what they wanted. They deserve every bit of appreciation for standing behind the team all year long. We are very proud of what they accomplished ,but new challenges and chances   lie ahead.

Regardless,  they must be fully geared up for meeting these  challenges that are likely to be much bigger and tougher . It means,  they have to  work much harder, be more  involved , get  further motivated and committed in order  to get the job done.

Great Results

The kind of success achieved by the national teams and clubs took everyone by complete surprise. At the start of the year , success seemed beyond improbable. However, they proved everybody wrong, and it felt really good , just to see the teams  get back in the win column after a long hiatus.

Indeed, it was a huge welcome relief and has  sparked  a sense of optimism ,revival,  and positivity of football in the country,putting  the most popular sport in the world  back on the limelight.

In the midst of  winter, the long wait at last came to end. It all started  (in January )with success  in the Bangabandhu International Cup. Nepal  went  into the competition with some expectations, but they surprised everyone with a very gutsy, energetic performance  against Bahrain in the final. They upset  the applecart   and emerged victorious  against the odds.

A month later  at the South Asian Federation Games (SAFG) in Assam,India, Nepal faced a far bigger challenge. I   had the privilege to witness the final   and vividly remember listening to Nepal’s national anthem  during the medal  ceremony in the 1993  SAFG after Nepal beat India for  the gold in a dramatic fashion,thus  setting a new benchmark in excellence. Since then we were nowhere close to repeating the feat. Finally, the feat has been repeated.

In the 2016 SAFG, with host India alongside Maldives and Bangladesh in the fray, Nepal led by energetic  Biraj Maharjan  had a fifty-fifty chance of winning.More important, they needed to prove  that success in Bangladesh  was no flash in the pan.

They defied history, performed gallantly,   and  proved themselves yet again, overcoming odds to beat the highly favoured India for the gold.

There was more in store for fans.The team extended  their spectacular winning streak  and wrapped up the season on a high note with victory over Macau in the final game of  the AFC Solidarity Cup in Malaysia.

Japanese Koji Gyotoku became the third  foreigner  to be appointed as  new head  coach of Nepal in the space of three years.He tasted his first success at the AFC Solidarity Cup.

It maybe recalled that under coach  Bal Gopal Maharjan , Nepal won  Bangabandhu tourney,the first international tournament  in 23 years.

It was purely coincidental that   interim coach Raju Kaji Shakya who skippered the gold winning team in the 1993 SAFG had the honor to guide Nepal to success in the 2016 SAFG also.

Besides, Three Star Club , giants of  Nepali football  had their  moments  of glory .  They had the prestigious Bordoloi Trophy  in their kitty at the expense of Kolkata titans East Bengal.

The Patan outfit scripted   another  important success  story  in the AFC Cup 2017 qualifiers in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after prevailing over home team Erchim Football Club.

The Eastern region powerhouse Jhapa XI had a good run in the Governor's Cup in Sikkim before running out of steam against Mohammedan Sporting Club in the final.

Women footballers  did everything  they could against India in the final but fell short in title quest in the 2016 SAFG in Assam.

The year’s second biggest showpiece,  South Asian Federation Championship  held  in Siliguri,West Bengal did not go too well for the ladies.

They again went down to India  1-3 in the semi-finals. There is no doubt that there is  talent and potential, but ANFA’s  lack of adequate support for women’s football is hurting and affecting its growth and development.

Result wise as a fan ,you  could not  have asked for more.

New face of Nepal Football

The year, definitely belonged to the roosters who ruled the roost. Upcoming youngsters in the likes of Bimal Gharti Magar,Anjan Bista,Nawayug Shrestha, Sujal Shrestha, Heman  Gurung,Ananta Tamang, Aditya Chaudhary, Bikesh Kuthu and many more have become the new face of Nepal  football.

We will be hearing a lot about them  in the  coming days. They have injected some kind of optimism, euphoria,excitement and life into Nepali football that  seemed  to be a lost cause.

No “A” Division League

Shockingly there was no Martyr’s Memorial “ A “ Division League  due to  utter incompetence on part of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

However, “B” and “C”  Division League took place.  The competition was played under  terrible conditions, putting players safety at risk.

Chyasal Youth Club and New Road Team emerged  first and second respectively in the “B” Division League,thus earning promotion to Division “A“.While Rani Pokhari Team stumbled finishing third.

Likewise, in the “C” Division League,  Shree Bhagwati Club and Jhamsikhel Youth Club won promotion to “B” Division after finishing first and second respectively.

Domestic tournaments plenty

Football popularity was on the rise.Football goers’ enthusiasm , support and love for the sport remained unprecedented and  palpable.

Like every year, there was no dearth of competitions on the domestic front.As a matter of fact, it was hard to keep up with tournaments taking place across the country.

We witnessed a dramatic surge in tournaments providing competition for teams and exposure to local talents at all levels nationwide.

To give boost to football,local clubs,  individuals, neighbourhood groups and private groups dedicated to football have been instrumental behind most competitions when it came to organizing.Three Cheers  for them.

Infrastructure development was at a stand still.and there was no sign of grassroots level development and youth programs.ANFA literally did nothing about it.

Deplorable ANFA

ANFA’s wrongdoings are well known.It is their  incompetence,negligence and ignorance  that has caused Nepali football irreparable damage and brought misery,ignominy to footballers like never seen before.

2016 was no exception, and they continued on the same path ,multiplying football fraternity woes. One thing is crystal  clear, they will never learn from their mistakes.

Three Star Club’s Round Two AFC Cup qualifiers miss proves that  ANFA had been shamelessly, grossly, morally irresponsible. Just when you think,it cannot get any worse, it can.There is no excuse  for this  extreme carelessness.      

The biggest irony is there is no one to hold ANFA  leadership accountable . Both Sports Ministry  and the National Sports Council  have done  absolutely nothing and remained  silent instead of  launching  an investigation into the AFC qualifiers fisco and taking  action against the guilty.

These  agencies are as good as non-existent, and it makes a mockery of the system.

ANFA Election disappointment

The much anticipated  ANFA  election  was one of the big news of the year. Change was in the air at ANFA leadership. The fight for the leadership chair was between Acting ANFA  President and Vice- President Narendra Shrestha and Karma Tsering Sherpa respectively.

Mr. Sherpa’s  campaigned on the theme of  hope, positive and real changes . It appeared though  he had a real shot.

However, Mr. Shrestha turned the tables and sprinted to the finish.His triumph was a slap in the face to Nepal football.

After all said and done, the disgraced, corrupt and suspended  former ANFA President Ganesh Thapa had the last laugh. He played a pivotal role in Mr. Shrestha’s  successful election bid.Furthermore, he helped  his brother-in-law Mani Kunwar win election as the vice-president also.

Looking  Forward

With Mr. Shrestha at the helm, I do not expect  much change. He got off to a disastrous start as ANFA President, making a total hash of  things. I am referring to  the AFC qualifiers mess up, which prevented Three Star Club from participating in the competition.  He is  the same wine just a different bottle and  name.I really hope I am wrong.

I look forward to another great year of football in terms of  performance and results despite overwhelming odds against footballers. No matter what happens, players must pick off  where they left off. They  have to keep up the good work, stay mentally and physically healthy , remain focussed and disciplined,  display commitment to excellence and  play with  a fresh energy.