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As I was writing this piece, it came to my notice that National Super League got the green light to begin the competition starting April 8th  from the All Nepal  Football Association . I have intentionally left my original write up unchanged for you to read. It is relevant to say the least. It is a sigh of relief for  players, fans and all those associated with the tournament. Prior to that, uncertainty surrounded  the second edition of National Super League,a franchise-based football tournament scheduled to start from April 8th to May 15th in Kathmandu. The fate of the National Super League (NSL) hangs  in the balance.Whether the tournament gets underway or not as planned,nobody knows at this point. The cancellation of an  immensely important tournament of  NSL stature is the last thing we want.I am keeping my  fingers crossed that everything goes well. Given the big success and tremendous excitement the launch of NSL generated in the sports circ...

Machhindra Football Club’s triumph in the latest edition of the Martyr’s A Division League tournament truly marks the emergence of a new powerhouse in Nepal football. Machhindra Football Club’s dominance It was a remarkable success in every sense.They were a solid  unit and excelled in every  department of the game.They played like a well-oiled machine throughout the grueling season. They demonstrated great confidence,coordination, consistency,aggressiveness and commitment in their performance and never lost the momentum. Such was their form,consistency and dominance,they were unbeaten,winning  and drawing 11 and 2 matches respectively. Out of the maximum 39 points from 13 matches,they earned an impressive 35 points.They were unstoppable and  ended up as runaway victors.They finished 12 points ahead of second- placed Tribhuvan Army Football Club. As defending champions,obviously,they were under pressure but never once cracked.Instead they stepped up with renewed...

Nepal’s hopes of playing in the  ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 in Australia went up in flames after losing to the United Arab  Emirates in the Global qualifiers in Oman recently. Led by talented and experienced leg spinner Sandeep Lamichanne, Nepal  played exceedingly  well and was on cruise control as they swept past Oman,Philippines and Canada, only  to fall at the last hurdle,to the United Arab Emirates(UAE). With three straight convincing wins,Nepal topped the group to reach the last four.Head Coach Prubudu Dassanayake’s boys combined superb collective effort and individual brilliance to dominate the proceedings. They batted, bowled and fielded well and made short work of their opponents.There were eye-catching individual performances.  World record holder opening  batsman Kushal Bhurtel gave full account of his talent by slamming an impressive century  against Philippines.He hit  an unbeaten 104 and was declared man of the match.He a...

2021  was a difficult and challenging year for everyone  because of COVID. Unsurprisingly, the year turned out to be a mixed year for Nepal cricket on the field.  The unexpected retirement of Paras Khadka and the ugly feud between Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and a section of international players spearheaded  by then skipper of the national team Gyanendra Malla dominated headlines. Of the many stories, foremost, the year’s  top story was former skipper of the national team Paras Khadka’s  retirement. Mr.Khadka,the face of Nepal cricket and one of the most recognized athletes in the country took everyone by complete surprise when he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The former skipper could have played for a few more years but he chose not to.His retirement marked the end of a glorious,remarkable and  successful career spanning 19 years.He will be remembered as Nepal's most iconic sportsmen. His contribution to Nepal cricket sta...

As always,I look back at  some of  the major stories and headlines that unfolded in Nepal football in 2021. Since the start of Covid pandemic in 2019, our lives have turned upside down and affected all industries, including sports in a big way. For almost two years,sporting events across the country had come to a grinding halt.As COVID eased up,competitive sports made its return globally in 2021 much to the relief of sports enthusiasts. However, as a precautionary measure spectators were barred from all venues and games were held behind closed doors. Domestic football in Nepal came back roaring to life.Postponed and canceled tournaments resumed across the country in a short period of time. Sharp decline of COVID cases finally paved the way for sports goers to return back  to stadiums and other venues. Despite lingering fear of COVID,football starved spectators packed sporting arenas to watch live action and support their respective teams. Amid pandemic,2021 was a mixed ye...

  As I write,the much anticipated Martyr's Memorial A Division League Football tournament has kicked off in Kathmandu. After several postponements,All Nepal Football Association (ANFA),the organizer,finally overcame uncertainties,logistical and administrative impediments to finalize the date for the competition. The league features fourteen teams,including newly promoted Satdobato Youth Club that replaced Saraswoti Youth Club relegated to B Division. Unlike in the past,the league will be played on weekends only.This is a good move on part of ANFA as it gives players the much needed rest and recovery time between games. Since the league is demanding, strenuous, exhausting,taxing and played for a long period of time,players face challenges with fitness level.Apparently,it will be a long slog for players and teams. Besides,these teams participate in countless domestic tournaments throughout the year sans proper rest and recovery time.  Obviously, it puts further mental and physic...