Sankata bite the dust

Source: ekantipur.com

KATHMANDU, JUN 14 - Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club, one of the oldest football clubs in the country, were relegated from the top flight for the first time in 40 years after fellow strugglers Boys Union Club thrashed Samsung Jawalakhel Club 7-1 in Martyrs’ Memorial ‘A’ Division League on Sunday.

With Sankata relegated, the pressure is now on Boys Union Club and Armed Police Force to fight for their survival.

Though Sankata’s fate was pretty much certain in the previous round itself, today’s 3-0 loss against Manang Marshyangdi Club made their exit from the top flight all but certain. At the completion of the 22nd round Sankata have 17 points.

Established in 1951, Sankata were previously known as Sankata Boys Sports Club till 2001.

In the first seven years of their establishment, the club were a dominant side in knock tournaments in the capital, but it was only in 1958 the club was formally registered in the Nepal Football Association — the football governing body back then — and were promoted to the top flight winning the B division league in their first year of registration in the NFA.

The club were relegated to ‘B’ division for the first time in 1970 but they were back where they belonged the following year by winning the ‘B’ division.

Despite their slump in form in recent years, they were a force to reckon with in the early years especially in the 1974 season, winning the league two times in a row after winning their first title in 1962.

Jawalakhel-Boys Union

Boys Union stepped their survival bid thrashing Jawalakhel 7-0 with a hat-trick from Ramesh Rana and Raju Rai. Rana scored in the ninth, 25th and 37th minute to complete his hat-trick, while Rai found the back of the net in the 31st, 76th and 88th minute to get his second hat-trick of the season. Ramesh Chettri was also on the mark with a 14th minute goal.

Doran Sherchan was the only scorer from Jawalakhel. The win gave Boys Union 22 points from 22 games to reaming at 10th in the standing, but they are nowhere near the comfort zone with Armed Police Force eager to make things right against Machhindra Club in their last match.

Sankata-Manang

Sankata’s hopes of remaining in the top flight were shattered by a hat-trick from Korean recruit Li-Jihon, who scored in the 11th, 52nd and 64th minute.

Sankata Prez resigns

Sankata Club president Indra Man Tuladhar resigned from the post following the club’s relegation. Tuladhar apologised for the club’s dismal run this season. “I am responsible for the club’s performance,” he said. “I will submit all the financial expenditures of the club in the next few days.” Tuladhar was elected as the president in 2008.