The disparity in Nepali Football

The new season of football started with the Gurkha Cup giving the opportunity to the moffusil and lower division clubs to participate in the top tier football. The football governing body of nation-All Nepal Football Association-decision to include the clubs of lower division in the cup was the commendable decision as the tournament provided them to have the match experience with the first division clubs.

But the dominant of the first division club was so overwhelming in the tournament that when Manang Marsyangdi won the title beating Tribhuvan Army Club the disparity between the top and lower level club was so much noticeable.

The District A Division Champion Munal Club from Jhapa, B Division Champion Desh Bhakta Youth Club from Nawalparasi and Martyrs Memorial B Division runners up Tushal Club got the opportunity to gather the top level experience in the Gurkha Cup. However, they could not stamp their presence at the top tier tournament with impressive game. Their football was the weakest performance in the tourney.

Deshbhakta conceded 21 goals and was able to score only one goal in the three matches they played. They had the humiliating start with a 10-1 loss against APF Club. They conceded six goals against the League Champion Three Star in the second game and lost 5-0 against Ranipokhari Corner Team.

The Tushal Club also followed the fate of Deshbhakta as their result also could not differ. Manang scored 12 goals to Tushal in the first game then lost 6-0 to Army. Tushal, however, drew with Sankata to build up some of their image.

In comparison to above two clubs, the performance of the Munal Club was somehow better, as they conceded lesser goals. They suffered 3-0 loss against Police Club and lost to Machhindra Football Club 2-1. They squared off the match against Saraswoti Youth Club with 2-2 score line.

ANFA even had provided them to play the top level players not committed to the A division clubs for the Gurkha Cup. Taking that opportunity, Munal fielded Dinesh Karki and Sachindra Dhimal for the event. At the other hand, Deshbhakta came to the tournament without enough extra players. Eighteen players are required for the football team but Deshbhakta came with just 14 players taking the big money prize event very lightly.

These clubs’ technical game, team management and standards of the players were below par in comparison to the first division clubs. The difference with the lower level and top level clubs is not a surprising fact as quality football in all level could not be expected from the structure of Nepali football.

Though football in Nepal is popular, it would be shocking to say that there are not enough players for the clubs in the country. 

Even the first division clubs have problem in signing the players as they are forced to pick the more than half of the players off low standard. In such situation, the quality players in the clubs from lower level and district level could not be expected. 

When the monthly salary of the A Division Clubs’ players reached above Rs. 50,000, most of the players in the B Divison are contributing almost free. Moreover, the financial health of the second tier clubs is always worse.

They lack the attractive sponsors and football fans. It is hard to run the second division clubs than first division. There is neither the will in the district and lower level clubs to elevate in the top flight. They love to continue in the same level to avoid the tension of managing millions of money when playing in the first division.

For the poor performance of these three clubs, ANFA also have its share of blame as they decided late to allow the District and B division clubs to participate in the tourney. Therefore in every defeat, the coaches of Deshbhakta, Munal and Tushal had the readymade answers of not being prepared for the tournament.

ANFA’s priority to the lower division football is so negligible that they are not giving it the importance as it gives to the school football.

So ANFA should focus on giving equal priority to all the levels of football. If not the football of Nepal will have a greater impact with a dearth of players.