ANFA & Football Clubs let down players

Contrary to expectations,the national team of Nepal fell well short of a good performance against Philippines  in the  away  fixture of the 2019 AFC Cup Qualifiers in Manila, Philippines.

Although Nepal went into the match as  clear underdogs, they were expected to perform reasonably well and give the opposition a run for their money. The  expectations, however,  did not transpire as they  suffered  a hugely disappointing 1-4 drubbing much to fans’ chagrin.

The result  was  a  big setback  for Coach Gyotoku and a tough pill to swallow.He had hoped to see  his team churn out  a gritty and credible showing, however, their efforts largely fell flat.

Nepal faced their toughest opposition  in Philippines since the Japanese took over as head coach . And deep down the coach knew they had a real first big challenge  on hands and it was going to be a difficult match.

Nepal entered the fixture riding a slew of winning streak and looked to extend their success. They needed a big performance to make impact in the game and stand a chance.

They were off to  a fast start giving the impression that they meant business.But their effort was short-lived as they were reduced to ten men in the early stages  of the game after Bikram Lama  was red carded for handling the ball in the penalty area.

No doubt it was a costly mistake by the  young defender.  His departure set off a ripple  effect and  put  the team at  a great disadvantage.

As a result, they came under intense pressure and found themselves on the receiving end for the most part. Unsurprisingly they failed to stop the opposition from finding the net with relative ease.

The game fell virtually beyond their reach from there on. In other words ,it was all over for the visitors who were pushed into defensive mode all the way to the end.

The only thing that mattered was how many goals they would end up conceding. The defense did  fairly well to restrict the opponent  to  one goal in the second half.

Custodian Kiran Chamling gutsy brilliance  was to no avail. Had he not saved one of the two spot kicks the scoreline could have looked a lot worse for Nepal. However, they saved face with a consolation goal from midfielder Bishal  Rai.

With the home team in total control of the proceedings, the game  lost the thrill, excitement and competitiveness, thus turning it all into a drab,dull affair. It became a  contest of mere academic interest. Rest is history.

Regardless of the outcome,it is important that the team look forward  with optimism. The setback obviously means more hard work for Coach Gyotoku and his boys.The challenge has become bigger and  the pressure to deliver has increased considerably.

Clearly Nepal cannot afford mediocrity, complacency anymore if they want to make their presence  felt in the competition meaningful and relevant.

For that matter, it is extremely imperative  that they let the dust settle down,regroup and learn from mistakes. Even more important, they  must bounce back at home against the three opponents,which is by no means easy.

Is it doable? Yes I think. That said, they will need a huge consistent performance to turn things  around. Else they will slide down further to nowhere.

The biggest hurdle  faced by Team Nepal in my opinion is proper, adequate preparations for international challenges. Besides, players physical fitness, conditioning are critical issues that have not  been  addressed yet.

As a matter of fact  this is something too important to ignore, but unfortunately the selection  committee and All Nepal Football Association(ANFA) do not give a damn.

It is  no secret that  domestic calendar  is crammed ,  disorganized, exhausting,  dangerous and taking a shocking physical and mental toll on players. Football clubs are guilty of  playing too many tournaments and pushing players too hard and too long.

Having to play day in, day out , players have reached a saturation point. On top of that,  most  playing grounds are substandard and unsafe, putting them  at risk of injury. They are denied proper care and adequate rest.

What makes this even worse is that a majority of  players are uninsured and risk career  ending injury.They have endured appalling conditions for long and taken  a beating.

ANFA, by design, has turned a blind eye and remain clearly unconcerned to protect the safety and welfare of players.Despite everything, players have put on a brave front on their challenges. I feel sad for them.