All Nepal Football AssociationThe All Nepal Football Association is the governing body of football in Nepal. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions. The organisation was founded in 1951 as the All Nepal Football Association and became affiliated within 1970. The present President of ANFA is Ganesh Thapa. Football in Nepal is one of the most popular sports.
The entry and initial start up of football game in Nepal during Rana regime in 1921 AD i.e., 1978 B. S. The game was introduced in Nepal by the young players who had learnt this game from other countries. This game was watched by a huge mass of audience and became very famous at that time. However, it is believed that the pioneer of this game in Nepal was Mr. Nararyan Narshing Rana of Thamel and Chandrajung Thapa of Naxal. There were some places, which were used as football ground for palace teams, such as Mrigendra Shamsher Niwas babarmahal, Mahabir Niwas Tangal palace, Nar shamsher Niwas Singhdarbar, Rudra Shamsher Niwas Bhahadur Bhavan, and Thamel Narsingh camp,. Whereas in the decade of 130s, both local and palace teams commonly used the grounds of Singhdarbar, Chhauni, Gaucharan, Jawalakhel and Lainchaur for playing football. Despite of political instability at that time football was yet played enthusiastically during 1921 Ad to 1990 AD by various teams without goal post, but the criteria was that the opponent team could follow the ball to the goal line. Sometimes, they used to play football on the bet of 100/200-castrated goat.
The teams like Mahabir-11, N R T-11, Jawalakhel-11, and Public Institute-11 were established in 1934 A. D. The football tournament was organized for the first time in institutional way in 1934 A. D. i.e., 1991 B.S. in which 12 teams had participated. In that tournament, the team of Jawalakhel club led by Narshumsher had secured first position. At that time, the chief of Public team Mr. Najarman Singh told that his team had got support and encouragement from Trichandra campus and audience.
Although that tournament was a grand success, due to various reasons the government decreed to ban the game but yet it was played inside and outside the palace in secret way. The game was played very enthusiastically due to which the number of participants increased drastically and hence complaints about banning the game were sent to the palace. The advisor Mr. Rishikesh Shah had advised that the organization should solve the problem of game themselves, which was very popular western democratic tradition. Shri 3 Padma Shumsher decreed to follow it and accordingly a football committee was formed under the president of General Mr. Madan Shumsher at first time in 1947 A. D. and members were Mr. Basant Shamsher and Mr. Mrigendra Shumsher.
In 1947 A. D, Tribhuvan Challenge Shield was introduced by late H. M. King Tribhuvan for the development of this football game which was organized at Tudikhel in front of Haribhavan. In that tournament Naresh-11team led by Nar Shumsher secured first position and N. R. T. team secured second position. In the same year Shree 3 Padma Shumsher introduced "Ramjanaki cup" which was continuously won thrice by Police Force team. The same cup was again introduced but was renamed as Marty's Memorial League football and hence League matches were introduced in Nepal.
In the year 2004 B.S., nationwide rebellion for Democracy started which led to a break in football game for sometime but after the success of the tournament the interest of public in football was again the same. Thus for establishing football game in an organized way in Nepal, football association was established in the year 2008 B. s. The first Chairman of the association was General Nar Shumsher J. B. R. Similarly, the secretary Dr. Trailokya Nath Upreti and Janaki Prasad were elected as treasurer. This football association used to organize football in a regular way in front of Billiard Hall of Singh Durbar in ground making Parafeet.
In the year 2008 B. S., Tribhuvan Challenge Shield knock-out football tournament was organized in which the team of Jaleshwor-11 bagged the shield. Police force team secured 1st position and N. R. T. second in the Marty's Memorial League tournament organized in the same year. Balsakha Dal introduced a new shield called Devi Maya Memorial Shield in the year 2009 B. s. and in 2010 B. S. Sankata Boys Sports team won the shield. Other tournaments of football were played in Singh Durbar itself up to the year 1953 A.D. Although the construction of Dasharath Stadium had started just before the coronation of H. M. King Mahendra but football match was played there too on the occasion of coronation of H. M. King Mahendra.
After the construction of Dasharath Stadium football matches were played there regularly since 1959 A. D. i.e. 2015 B. S. In the year 2016 B. S. a memorable event of a football match between the teams King-11 and Primeminister-11 which was charity match held at Dasharath Stadium. In that match Late H. M. King Mahendra had played in the team King-11 and the then first elected Prime Minister B. P. Koirala played for the Prime minister-11 team. Similarly from the year 2018, Mahendra Goldcup football tournament has been being organized in Biratnagar.
After that, from the year 2025B.S. Nar Trophy Football tournament was introduced on the name of the president of Nepal Football Association Mr. Mar Shumsher Rana with the view of respecting him who had contributed a lot in the development of football game. In order to respect the player who contributed to develop the standard of football the title of Best player was introduced in 2029 by football association and the Best Player was awarded with a gold medal. The title of Best Player and the gold medal was bagged by Baburam Pun whereas in 2035 B. S. Ganesh Thapa got the same. Similarly in the year 2038 B. S. and 2039 B. S. Rupak Raj Sharma and Suresh Panthi got the title and the medal respectively. Hence, total four players got the title of Best Player and the gold medal.
Due to various reasons, football game wasn't organized in a regular manner at that time and hence the Football association was re-established by National Games association in 2030 and Federation of Nepal football association was established. First of all, the Federation of Nepal Football Association had been continuing the League-cum Knockout Birthday Anniversary Football Tournament on the occasion of birthday of H. M. King since 2030 B. S. and other tournaments also in regular and organized way.
Although Nepal had been playing football with the teams of various neighboring countries and friendly countries but the necessity to invite countries for competitive matches in Nepal was realized only in 2036 B. S. and hence ANFA cup football match was introduced. In the first match of ANFA cup Kathmandu-11 team was the winner which was held in Chaitra. To encourage young players Federation of Nepal Football Association started ANFA President shield in the year 2038 B. S. in which Three Star club secured the first position.
The year 2039 B.S. was even more important for the development of football. In that year 23rd Asian youth football tournament (group 1) was organized for the first time in Nepal in which the teams of Nepal, India, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arab, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen A. R., Pakistan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Yemen P. D. R. and Syria had participated. Hence, there were altogether 13 different participating countries.
With the view of promoting football throughout the country, A.N.F. Association started organizing football matches from 2039 B.S. in four development regions in next year. With the view of developing the standard of football it was realized that training about football game was needed and hence a training program was organized in 2039 B. S. from 17th Bhadra to 29th Bhadra named International Olympic Sole Directive football training. In this training 25 students were trained by the trainers of FIFA. In the year 2060 B. S., for the first time Women's football tournament was organized from 5th Bhadra to 11th Bhadra.
In the year 1970 A.D. Nepal became member of FIFA. And hence Nepal's football game can be divided into 3 stages. The first stage was from 1977 B. s. to 2040 B. S. when football game had made an early in Nepal and was played for entertainment. The second stage was from 2004 B. S. to 2030 B. S., which stage was regarded as a revolutionary stage in the history of football in Nepal. And the third stage is regarded from the year 2030 B. S. till now when football game has been improved, modernized, commercialized and even Nepali players have been able to occupy place in International football standards.
| Address: ANFA House Ward No.4, Bishalnagar P.O.Box 125842, Kathmandu Nepal |
| Nepal |
| | Email: anfanepal@gmail.com |
| | Telephone: 977-1-5201060 / 977-1-5201062 / 977-1-5202319 |
| | Fax: 977-1-5201059 / 977 1 4424314 |
| President: Ganesh Thapa |
| Vice President: Mahesh Bista |
| General Secretary: Narendra Shrestha |
| Founding Date: 1951 |
| Affiliation Date: 1971 (AFC) 1970 (FIFA) |
| Jersey: Red |
| Shorts: Red |
| Socks: |
