Foreign players hired without work permit

SOURCE: REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, July 17: Altogether 48 foreign players were featured in the Martyrs Memorial League. All clubs, except three departmental teams -- Army, Police and APF -- and Koilapani Polestar featured foreign players.

Clubs that recruited foreign players had to submit International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and Xerox copies of the players´ passports to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). However, ANFA did not ask the clubs to get work permits for their foreign players.


“We had not made it compulsory this season,” accepted Lalit Krishna Shrestha, ANFA vice president and spokesperson. “We have done this to facilitate the clubs to hire more foreign players and raise the standard of the league,” he added.

However, current Labor Act of the country categorically states that any foreigner, who comes Nepal to work for wages should have work permit. “Any foreigner who works in Nepal for a salary must have a work permit. However, it is the employer who should get the work permit for the workers,” said Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor.

“We´ll take action against clubs who have hired foreign players without work permits,” Bhattarai added. “If the government directs us, we´ll ask clubs to get work permits issued for their foreign players,” said spokesperson Shrestha

Nepal Police Club successfully defends title despite losing its final match of the season

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 16: Nepal Police Club´s dream of lifting the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League Football trophy with an unbeaten record once again was shattered on Saturday after it was defeated 1-0 by arch rival Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) at the Dasharath Stadium.

Police, practically assured of the title, emerged league champion for the third time in a row on the basis of goals superiority.

Both the teams have equal 44 points with 14 wins, two draws and a loss each from 17 matches played during the league. However, Police has a goal difference of 47 while MMC had 35. Police scored 54 goals and conceded seven, while MMC scored 42 and conceded seven.

With the win, Police bagged a purse of two million rupees along with the winner´s trophy while runner-up MMC received Rs 700,000.

The defeat also denied Police and its coach Birat Krishna Shrestha a chance to extend their unbeaten run to 50 matches in the league. The last time Police faced defeat in the league was in the second match of the second leg of 2063 BS league. In the previous edition too, Police had lifted the trophy without losing a single match.

"Winning the title remaining undefeated gives a great pleasure. I am really disappointed to see our 49-match unbeaten run come to an end," said Police coach Shrestha.

National player Anil Gurung scored the lone goal for MMC in the 30th minute. Gurung scored from the goalline changing the direction of Sujal Shrestha´s shot from the box.

In the competitive match, despite dominating ball possession MMC made only a few attempts compared to Police. MMC could make only a couple of impressive attempts on goal. Police custodian Ritesh Thapa made a brilliant quick dive in the injury time of first half to save a powerful shot from Santosh Sahukhala from the edge of the box after a one-to-one pass with Anil Gurung. Ten minutes after the break, Police glovesman Thapa again denied Gurung´s header in Nirajan Khadka´s free-kick.

MMC custodian Bishal Shrestha made a couple of heroic saves to deny Police. Shrestha twice denied Bhola Silwal and Ramesh Katuwal´s powerful strikes from the box in the 64th and 65th minutes, respectively.

In the 71st minute, the league´s highest scorer Jumanu Rai missed the target in an open net after receiving a pass from Bharat Khawas who had stolen the ball from from Deepak Bhusal.

Summing up the whole league, MMC President Tashi Ghale complained that it was the unfair decision of the referee that led his team to finish as runner-up. He also raised suspicion over the fairness of the match played between Police and Three Star on Wednesday. "I have heard the two teams´ players were involved in fixing. Today´s win gives a message that the trophy must be given to MMC."

Three Star finishes fourth

Mega Three Star Club climbed three spots to fourth after a 2-1 win over Friends Club in the day´s early kick-off, pushing Himalayan Sherpa down to fifth. Three Star finished fourth with 34 points, one more than Sherpa. Friends remained unchanged in the ninth spot with 24 points.

African recruit for Three Star George Ssempala and Raj Kumar Ghising scored one each in the 17th and 28th minutes respectively while substitute Bishan Gurung pulled one back for Friends on 74 minutes.

Ssempala scored from the box in a short pass set by Bishnu Gurung, and Ghising doubled the scoring 11 minutes later. Gurung, a 64th minute replacement for Thomas Scott, pulled one back for Friends in goalie Kiran Chemjong´s rebound off Prakash Budhathoki´s shot.

Three Star coach Meghraj KC said that Three Star´s run in the league was satisfactory. "The team´s target was to save Three Star´s image and play good football, and we achieved that," KC said.

KC´s counterpart Paras Chaudhary of Friends said that to achieve ninth position with average players was an achievement for the team.

Macchindra survives while Brigade Boys goes down

SOURCE: REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, July 15: Brigade Boys Club on Friday became the last team to be relegated from the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League Football Tournament after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of already relegated Swayambhu Club at the Dasharath Stadium.

Koilapani Polestar of Nawalparasi and Kalimati based United Youth Club are the other two teams that have already been relegated in the 18-team contest.


Relegation threatened G Five Machhindra FC had already avoided relegation threat following the defeat of Brigade who later played a goalless draw to departmental team Nepal Army Club at the APF ground, Halchowk.

With the results Machhindra finished the league campaign unchanged in the 14th place, above the relegation zone with 14 points while Army finished top eight with 29 points while Brigade 15th with 10 points and Swayambhu 16th with 11 points.

In another match at Dasharath Stadium, Mahindra Bansbari FC came from two goals deficit to earn 3-3 draw against Saraswoti Youth Club. Bansbari promoted to the first division in current league finished 10th with 21 points while Saraswoti with similar status finished 13th with 15 points.

Brigade making its debut in the top flight football in 2061 BS enjoyed three seasons in the A div before being relegated in 2065. But in the very year it was promoted to A division from B division league conducted by Nepal Football Association. This is the first appearance of Brigade in the league after a comeback to top flight.



Despite taking an early fourth minute lead, Brigade failed to continue with it as it conceded one goal each in either halves. Nabin Rai had given a lead to Brigade in the fourth minute from box. Santosh Basnet hit back the equalizer in the 20th minute through a superb freekick from the right flank. African recruit for Swayambhu Chinedu Fransis scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute in his solo effort beating two opponent defenders and goalie Suman Ranjitkar.

Fransis and Sushil Basnet hit the woodwork each in either half while Francise also failed to beat goalie in one-on-one position in the 16th minute.

In another match, Saraswoti had taken two goals lead within 19 minutes scored by Dilen Loktan and Ramesh Tamang. Loktan scored in custodian Lucky Karki´s rebounder off Martin Nwando´s strike. Tamang also scored in a similar fashion in goalie´s rebounder off Krishna Gopal Shrestha´s shot.

Nabin Lama pulled one back five minutes after break for Bansbari through a header in his own rebounder from bar. Dennis Ovko Ochieng made it 2-2 through a header in Subin Ghimire´s cross.

However, Sarsowoti again restored its lead a minute later when substitute Sajan Bohara´s long shot entered net as goalie Lucky Karki marching towards ball fall in the slippery ground. But Arnavd Keny got equalizer five minutes from time through a brilliant attempt from box after controlling a pass from Anand Gurung.

Bansbari coach Hari Om Shrestha said that he was satisfied with the team´s overall performance in the league. "Though our target was to finish top ten we ended up finishing in top eight," Shrestha said adding, he was ready to help the probe committee formed to study match fixing rumors. Bansbari is rumored to have played a fixed match against Machhindra. "Match fixers should be punished and if they are not punished there will be numerous match fixing cases in the national league," Shrestha predicted.

"We are satisfied that we avoided relegation despite inexperienced player in our squad," said Saraswoti´s assistant coach Pradip Nepal.

ANFA probe smells rat

The five member probe committee formed to investigate match fixing rumors in the ongoing Martyrs Memorial League itself is under suspicion. Bansbari is rumored to have played a fixed match in its 3-0 defeat at the hands of relegation threatened Machhindra FC. Former General Secretary of Bansbari Rajaram Dhakal is also a member of the five-member committee formed under coordination of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Vice president Mahesh Bista. This has questioned the impartiality of the committee. ANFA officials Dhirendra Pradhan, Ganesh Chand and Nepal Police DIG Bigyan Raj Sharma are other members of the committee. Though Dhakal is nominated to the committee in the capacity of ANFA legal advisor, he was also former office bearer of Bansbari FC. "I was the member secretary of Bansbari before the election of current board. But I am not event a general member of Bansbari after my appointment in ANFA," Dhakal said to the Republica over telephone.

Brigade, Swayambhu plays with black armband

Brigade Boys Club and Swayambhu Club wore black armbands during their clash at the Dasharath Stadium on Friday. Before the kick off, they jointly carried a banner with the message “Stop match fixing in football”. Brigade was almost sure of relegation after Machhindra´s 3-0 win against Bansbari in the so called fixed-match. "We are relegated in the current season due to Bansbari-Machhindra´s fixed-match and it is open secret that Boys Union fell victim to Machhindra´s fixing in last edition as well," said Brigade secretary Progess Rai. Clarifying the reason for wearing black armbands Rai stated, "It is our symbolic disagreement with match fixing tendency. If fixing continues in football there is no point in making huge investments in football," said Rai who denied any allegations of fixing by his side. Swayambhu coah Bikram Lama opined that fixing shall take football nowhere. "We could have played a fixed match and saved Brigade but we did not do so," Lama said.

Winless Koilapani returns home

SOURCE: REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, July 14: Koilapani Polestar of Nawalparasi returned home winless after a 4-1 thrashing by Armed Police Force (APF) on Thursday in its last match of the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League at the Dasharath Stadium.

Koilapani, the first team to be relegated in the league and the only club from outside the Kathmandu Valley in the history of top flight football, conceded two goals in either half as national striker Ganesh Lawati completed a hat-trick.


With the hat-trick, Lawati also became the first player to score four hat-tricks in the ongoing league and jumped to second in the list of highest scorers with 17 goals, four goals behind top scorer Jumanu Rai of Nepal Police Club. Santosh Sahukhala (17) of Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Bharat Khawas (14) of Police, Dipak Rai (12) of Himalayan Sherpa, and Karna Limbu (10) and Gerard Mukonza (10) of Jawalakhel are the other leading scorers.

During the league Koilapani conceded 78 goals, the most conceded by any team. Jangbu Sherpa, who appeared in the last 11 matches, alone hit half of the 12 goals scored by Koilapani in the league.

The team lies at the bottom of the table with three points playing three draws out of 17 matches. APF, which is already safe from relegation, remained unchanged in the 12th spot with 18 points.

In the one-sided match, APF dominated the show and opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Lawati, who doubled the advantage in the 42nd and completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute. Dipak Khadka sealed the victory five minutes from time. Jangbu Sherpa scored the only goal for Koilapani five minutes after the break.



"We will leave tomorrow and start preparations for the second division immediately," said an emotional Koilapani President Bishnu Prasad Adhikari at the post-match conference. "To complete the whole league is in itself an achievement for us," said Tara Prasad Bhusal, manager of the club that was in financial crisis and on the verge of quitting halfway through the tournament.

"A team must be financially capable and should have a competent coach to play the league in the capital," Bhusal added.

APF assistant coach Janak Singh Tharu also expressed dissatisfaction toward his team´s performance during the league. "We will again make changes in the team," said Tharu, adding, "Though we had made changes, the team did not meet the club´s expectations."

NRT fights back to earn draw

New Road Team (NRT) staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club in the late match held at the Dasharath Stadium.

Jawalakhel was not worried about the outcome of the match as it was already guaranteed a third place finish in the league despite a win or a loss. Jawalakhel has 36 points, while NRT also remained unchanged in sixth place with 32 points.

In the slow-paced match, Jawalakhel took a 16th minute lead through Karna Limbu who scored a spectacular goal in the near post from the box after beating three opponent defenders. Kenyan recruit Gerard Mukonza doubled the tally in the 59th minute in a counter-attack utilizing a ball released by his custodian Min Basnet.

NRT opened its account five minutes later when Olayinka Edrislehi brilliantly beat goalie Basnet in a short pass from Aaron Blackie Cole. Roshan Lamichhane hit the equalizer from the box during the fading moments from close range out of a scuffle after receiving a pass set by Cole.

"Today we gave chances to new players but failed to achieve victory," Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC said, adding that he was satisfied with the team´s overall performance in the league.

Himalayan Sherpa thrashes United

Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club thrashed already relegated United Youth Club 7-0 with a brace each from Dipak Rai, Kigozi Ismail and Jagjeet Shrestha and one from Saroj Dahal. Though Oliver Temb scored in the 21st minute to level the scoring at 1-1, United conceded half-a-dozen more goals in the second half.

Himalayan Sherpa is in fourth spot with 33 points. However, seventh placed Three Star (31 points) could replace Himalayan Sherpa in the fourth place if it beats Friends Club in its last match to be played on Saturday.

Newly-promoted United finished the league campaign second from the bottom with six points.

Ghale cries foul against fixing, referee controversy

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 13: Amidst match fixing rumors and controversy surrounding the referee´s decision in the league, Manang Marshyandi Club (MMC) President Tashi Ghale on Wednesday appealed to the football governing body ANFA to take serious action against the guilty. 

"Fixing should be stopped and those involved in it should be punished," Ghale said at the post match conference after his side´s 7-0 win over Brigade Boys Club. 

Ghale who has been a big time critic of the referee further stressed on the improvement of referee´s competence. "If ANFA does not take initiatives to stop match fixing, enhance the competence of referees and punish them for their wrongdoings, MMC will quit the National League no matter if we win the title or finish runners up," Ghale said.

"There is no point in making huge investments in football if match fixing prevails and referees´ mistakes continues to take its toll on clubs," Ghale added.
Match fixing is rampant in the Nepal´s league football and ANFA has not taken any serious steps so far to check it. Machhindra´s 3-0 win over Bansbari was rumored to be a fixed match.

In the last edition of the league, numerous fixed matches were played. For instance, APF´s 8-0 win over Machhindra Club in its last match helped the departmental team avoid relegation. 

Similarly, referees´ decisions have often courted controversy in the domestic football. Coaches of all teams other than Three Star´s Meghraj KC have time and again criticized the referee decision. Coaches have demanded punishment for such referees openly but ANFA has never punished them.

MMC´s coach Lee-Tae Ho, also the former World Cup player for South Korean, raised suspicions over referee´s impartiality. He had predicted, "The quality of Nepali football can not be improved in the absence of fair and competent referees." 

"Referees have been punished internally and punished openly when found to have committed grave mistakes. Open punishment in minor cases will only demoralize them," said senior referee Surendra Shrikhrakar.

Police practically assured of third title

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 13: Only a miracle can prevent Nepal Police Club from lifting the title of Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division Football League for the third time in a row. Police´s 1-0 win over arch rival Mega Three Star Club on Wednesday at the Dasharath Stadium has practically guaranteed Police the league title with a match remaining.

Defender Suman Subedi scored the all-important goal through a brilliant diving header from the six-yard box in a long free-kick taken by veteran midfielder Parbat Pandey.

With the result, Police also extended its unbeaten run in the league to 49 matches.

Had Three Star won or drawn the match against Police, the title race would have been wide open until the last day of the league.

Police, who takes on second placed Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in its last match on Saturday, extended its lead to three points at the top of the points table with 44 points. MMC has 41 points.

Earlier, MMC humiliated relegation battler Brigade Boys Club 7-0 to keep alive its title hopes, but Three Star´s defeat in the late match of the day almost shattered its dreams.

MMC still has a mathematical chance, but it seems almost impossible. If MMC is to lift the title, it must beat Police by a margin of at least eight goals on Saturday.

In the competitive match between Police and Three Star, both studded with five national players each, Police dominated the show and made frequent attacks, but some brave saves from national goalie Kiran Chemjong foiled their attempts.

In the 11th minute Chemjong heroically punched Parbat Pandey´s free-kick to safety, and six minutes later denied Yogesh Shrestha´s free-kick in the same fashion. Three Star could make only one attempt on goal in the first half. But the Patan-based club was unlucky to see Bishad Gauchan´s shot from the box rebound off the bar. 

Police could have taken the lead in the 27th minute if scorer Subedi and Ramesh Katwal had connected to a pass from Bhola Silwal just ahead of the goalline.

Police made about a couple of dangerous attempts on goal after the interval as well. A feeble shot from Bharat Khawas in the 51st minute went inches wide while Pandey´s free-kick was denied by Chemjong just below the bar.

Three Star had scored a goal in the fifth minute of added seven minutes at the end of the match, but referee Sudish Pandey ruled it out for handball. A large number of Three Star and MMC fans had erupted in joy when Bishnu Sunuwar sent the ball past the net out of a scuffle in the box, but the situation in the stadium turned tense when the referee disallowed the goal.

"The title hat-trick has been possible because of coordination among coach, players and the management. I would like to thank the players for their great effort in achieving this success," said Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha. Shrestha´s counterpart Meghraj KC commented that his side put up a good performance as per expectations. "Both the teams played well," KC said, also lauding Sudedi for his flying header. "Subedi took a great risk with a long jump for the goal."

With the result, Three Star dropped one spot to fifth with 31 points after fourth placed Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) beat Bauddha FC 5-4 at the Halchowk Ground.

The early kick-off at the Dasharath Stadium saw double hat-trick for the first time in a match in the ongoing league as Anil Gurung and Nirajan Khadka each scored three goals in MMC´s greatest margin victory (7-0) over Brigade Boys. The other goal came from Danish recruit Shayan Mosavi.

Gurung opened the scoring in the third minute and added other in the 42nd and 67th. Similarly, Khadka scored in the seventh, 64th and 89th minutes. Mosavi found the target in the 54th minute. Khadka took his goals tally to nine and Gurung to six in the league.

Relegation threatened BBC remained unchanged in the 16th place with 10 points with a match in hand. BBC´s fate depends on the result of the match between Army Club and Machhindra as well as its match against Swayambhu Club.

At the Halchowk Ground, RCT bounced back from a two-goal deficit to beat Bauddha 5-4 in a high-scoring match. Bauddha had taken a 2-0 lead by the 12th minute after Crispen Chhetri opened the scoring in the third minute and doubled the tally nine minutes later.

But Ntolo Ngoumou and Dipesh Thapamagar put RCT back on level terms. Ngoumou hit the first goal for RCT in the 17th minute and Thapamagar added another in the 26th. 

Thapa Magar then put RCT in front in the 38th minute with his second goal. Ngoumou made it 4-2 in the 60th minute through penalty and Amar Dangol scored his team´s fifth in the 69th minute.

Som Thapa added two more goals to Baudhha´s tally in the 76th and 83rd minutes, but it fell short of one goal to level the match.

Unfortunate day for Swayambhu and United Youth Club

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 12: Swayambhu Club and United Youth Club were relegated from the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League on Tuesday while Nepal Army Club became the last team to secure a berth in the National League.

Top flight debutant Swayambhu, established in 2052 BS, became the victim as Mahindra Bansbari FC suffered an unexpected 3-0 defeat at the hands G Five Machhindra Club at the Dasharath Stadium.


The victory for Machhindra meant that 16th place Swayambhu, with eight points and a match in hand, would not be able to climb out of the relegation zone. Machhindra remained unchanged in the 14th place with 13 points.

Swayambhu was promoted to A division in 2065 BS as the winner of second division football tournament organized by the All Nepal Football Association.

The bottom four in the 18-team contest will be relegated to B division. Koilapani Polestar of Nawalparasi has already been relegated. Brigade Boys Club, which is in 15th place with two matches in hand, is still a threat to Machhindra, who had earlier defeated Koilapani and United.

In the early kick-off at the Dasharath Stadium, Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club defeated minnow United Youth Club 3-0 shattered the latter´s hopes of avoiding relegation.

United, established in 2027 BS, was promoted to A division for the first time in 2053 BS but was relegated after enjoying two seasons in top flight football. United was again promoted to A division in 2065 BS after finishing runner-up in the B division football organized by Nepal Football Association.



"I don´t care what the spectators say," said Bansbari coach Hari Om Shrestha when asked about the match-fixing rumor heard in the stadium after his side´s surprise defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Machhindra.

Bansbari had a dream run in the league following a comeback in top flight football in the current season and had produced some stunning results. It had defeated title contender Three Star 1-0 and RCT 2-0.

Bansbari´s performance had given the spectators enough reason to raise suspicion. The ball was played in Bansbari´s half for the most part of first half. Bansbari players frequently made unnecessary back passes. There was no celebration at relegation threatened Machhindra´s bench at the time of scoring and when the match ended. Not a single player got injured, and it was a rare match in which the referee did not show a single card.

"We are safe from relegation and our aim was to play safely without getting injured," Bansbari coach Shrestha said, claiming that the match was not fixed. "If there was fixing then we are ready to face punishment," Shrestha added.

Pukar Ale scored twice in the 16th and 83rd minutes and substitute Shyam Mahato headed home in the 41st minute to seal victory for Machhindra.

Machhindra coach Narottam Shakya said that his side still faces relegation threat. "Our aim was to win the match and there is no question of fixing."

Earlier, in a one-sided match, Jawalakhel intensified the attacks from the very beginning and scored twice inside the first 25 minutes. Karna Subba, Gerard Mukonza and substitute Raj Paudel were on target for Jawalakhel.

Subba, who took his goals tally to 10 in the league, opened the scoring in the 18th minute beating goalie Ajay Maharjan in a one-on-one position after controlling a pass from skipper Laxmi Nath Shtestha.

Kenyan recruit Mukonza doubled the tally in the 25th minute through a header after he met goalie Maharjan´s rebounder off Karna Subba´s shot. Paudel, a 52nd minute replacement for Gerard, made it 3-0 when he headed home Sachindra Dhimal´s cross from the box.

United Youth pulled one back in the 76th minute when Thomsan Bhusal´s scored through a header after Rabi Silwal´s freekick rebounded off the bar.

Jawalakhel could have scored three more goals but two strikes from scorer Limbu and one from Mukonza hit the woodwork.

"My predictions turned out to be true," said a delighted Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC. "Though the club had aimed for a place in the super eight round, I have targeted to finish in the top three and we are close to it," KC said.

The result strengthened Jawalakhel´s grip on third spot with 35 points, four ahead of fourth place Three Star that has a match advantage over Jawalakhel.

Army thumps Koilapani

Nepal Army Club thumped relegated Koilapani Polestar 6-0 to complete the line-up for the National League. The top eight teams of the league will be eligible to contest in the 10-team National League. Army, with only a match left, has 28 points while Koilapani is at the bottom of the table with one point.

In the course of Army´s convincing victory Bikarna Shrestha scored in the 31st and 77th minutes after Santosh Nepali had opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Chhabilal Adhikari of Koilapani scored an own goal in the 44th minute while Chun Bahadur Thapa scored in the first half stoppage time through penalty. The other goal came from Hari Mahato in the 63rd minute.

Nepal Telecom becomes new sponsor of defending champion NPC

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 11: Nepal Police Club (NPC), the two-time champion and leading team in the ongoing Martyrs Memorial Football League, signed a sponsorship contract with Nepal Telecom (NTC) on Monday.

Nepal Police IGP Rabindra Pratap Shah and NTC Managing Director Vishwa Nath Goel signed the MoU of the sponsorship amidst a program in the capital.

As per the deal, NPC will get Rs 1.6 million per year and in return will display NTC logo on its jersey. Likewise, NTC can make use of NPC players in its advertisements and promotional matters.

“Nepal Telecom signed the sponsorship to support the development of football, a popular sport in the country,” said Goel in the signing ceremony. “Nepal Police Club is one of the successful and well known clubs of the country, therefore, the sponsorship could help promote Nepal Telecom,” he added.

“No 1 telecom company of the country joins hand with No 1 football team of the country,” said Goel.

IGP Shah thanked NTC for supporting the departmental team and said that the partnership between the two institutions will help in the developmnet of the sport. “Nepal Police had set up its first football team in 1950 and that was a historical event. This sponsorship could be another turning-point in the history of the Nepal Police Club,” said Shah.

During the signing ceremony, IGP Shah and NTC Managing Director Goel handed over team´s jersey to NPC captain Jumanu Rai.

The sponsorship deal is the second highest among the Nepali football clubs. Earlier, Mega Bank had signed Rs 1.675 million sponsorship deal will Three Star Club.

NPC is the 10th club to get sponsor during the ongoing league. Three Star, Manag Marshyangdi, Himalayan Sherpa, Jawalakhel, Bansbari, Machhindra, Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) and Nepal APF Club already have sponsors.

NPC that won consecutive league titles in 2007 and 2010 will complete its title hat-trick if it wins this year´s league.

Swayambhu stuns APF

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

Earlier in the kick off match at Dasharath Stadium, departmental Armed Police Force (APF) was stunned 2-0 by the newly promoted neighbors Swayambhu Club. 
Camarah Fayah and Santosh Shrestha netted each during later stage of either half to keep newly promoted Swayambhu´s hope afloat of avoiding relegation.

Swayambhu moved a spot ahead in the 16th place with eight points while APF remained constant in 12th place with 15 points after playing 16 matches. Bottom four teams in the 18-team contest will get relegated.

Fayah scored in the fourth minute of the first half injury time from box when he met a Jibesh Pandey´s deflection off Chinedu Fransis free-kick. The second goal came one minute from time when Shrestha´s 25-yard shot entered the net leaving the substitute goalie Bikram Gurung motionless.

Gurung had replaced first choice goalie Samit Rajbhandari in the 27th minute after he collided with a Swayambhu´s African player. 

"Today we had to win the match at any cost to keep our hopes of avoiding relegation," Swayambhu coach Bikram Lama said adding, "The last match to be played against Brigade will be vital in determining our fate." 

APF assistant coach Janak Singh Tharu said that his side could not play well as they were exhausted after playing four matches in six days. 

Mega Three Star Club suffered fourth defeat in the league

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

Both goals in the second half of the match, marred by heavy downpour, handed Mega Three Star Club its fourth defeat in the league on Sunday played at the Dasharath Stadium. Nepal Army Club came from behind to earn a 2-1 win over the Patan based club. 

Despite taking an early fifth minute lead through spot-kick Three Star conceded two goals in second half in the ground filled with water. 

Not only the slippery ground but also uneven bounce and unpredictable movement of ball contributed in the defeat of technically sound Three Star against physically strong Army opponents. 

The result also barred Three Star from moving to third from fourth place. After playing equal 15 matches, fourth placed Three Star has 32 points while third placed Jawalakhel has 32 points. Army, set take on Koilapani and Machhindra in next matches, strengthened its grip on top eight with 25 points.

Regarding the playing condition of the water filled ground, Three Star coach Meghraj KC said, "International rules does not apply in Nepal as we have only one stadium."

"Army had physical advantage and we lost to them as they were physically stronger than my players and one need to play power game in the muddy and watery ground," added KC. 

Anil Ojha had put the Three Star ahead in the fifth minute through penalty after Ram Kumar Biswash fouled Yogesh Gurung in the danger zone. Biswash was also slapped with yellow card.

The remaining time of the first half was competitive with Army making two post attempts. In the 13th minute, Bikarna Shrestha´s strike from the danger zone was heroically saved by Three Star custodian Kiran Chemjong. Similarly, Hiranya Magar´s shot went wide in the 44th. 

Army hit back the equalizer 10 minutes after the interval when Nawayug Shrestha´s powerful shot from the edge entered the net. Army got the winner as a gift from Three Star skipper Sanjiv Budhathoki whose attempt to clear a cross of Bhoj Raj Ghimire rolled into his own net.

Army coach Yogambar Suwal said that his side was near to their target of achieving top eight spot. "I was confident about the army team."

Koilapani Polestar became the first team to relegate

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 10: Koilapani Polestar of Nawalparasi, on Sunday became the first team to relegate in the ongoing Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League Football Tournament after it was hammered 7-0 by G Five Machhindra FC at the APF ground, Halchowk. 

The result pulled Machhindra out of the relegation zone for the first time since June 8 despite having equal 10 points as that of Brigade Boys Club on the basis of goals superiority. Machhindra lies in 14th and Brigade in 15th place, the relegation line after the result. 

Koilapani, the only team from outside the capital in the history of top class Nepali football had a painful exit as it got relegated in its very debut season without a single win so far. However, it has yet to play two more matches with Nepal Army Club on Tuesday and Armed Police Force on Thursday. Among 15 matches played so far, the team lost 12 and drew three matches. 

The club elevated to top flight from the B division league conducted in the 2063 BS by ANFA as the fourth team while there was existence of two separate football bodies including NFA led by agitating groups. Koilapani lies at the bottom of the table with three points. 

"We will play B division football in the capital again and try to make a comeback into the top flight," Koilapani President Bishnu Prasad Adhikari said to Republica in a telephonic conversation adding, "We will not play district league and if we are forced to do so we will quit the league." 

"We are very much disappointed with the defeats but now we will try to win at least one match," Adhikari added.

Sharing his experience of the top flight football, Adhikari said, "We failed to win despite the hard effort of our players as you need to have foreign players to win the top flight football. We also had to put up with financial crunches during the league and we have realized that a team competing in top flight football should be financially strong."

"I would like to thank all our fans and supporters and assure them we will make comeback in the A division football. We wish to get same kind of support in the future as well," Adhikari said. 

In Sunday´s defeat of Koilapani, Mozambique´s Ezee Collins completed hat-trick, scoring goals in 17th, 61st and 65th minute before Nathan Onyeka had given six minute lead to Machhindra. With his hat-trick, Collins also netted his seventh league goal.

Pukar Ale added another in 47th minute while Camara Musa Fautin and Shyam Lal Mahato were also on target in the 75th and 80th minute respectively.

Jawalakhel move to third

Source: Republica

In the match played at Halchowk ground, Bishal Rai (Jersey no 9) and Karna Limbu scored in each half as Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club beat Brigade Boys Club 2-0. 

With the win, Jawalakhel moved to third from fifth place with 32 points while Brigade remained constant in the 14th place.

Rai made a brilliant 25-yard shot to open scoring in the 42nd minute while Limbu doubled the tally in the 86th minute in pass of Rai. 

Meanwhile, Brigade coach Suman Yonjan became the first coach to be sent off from the touchline. He was sent off by referee Srawan Lama after Yonjan went inside the play ground (near the d-box) in the 25th minute to appeal against the referee decision of awarding yellow card to goalie Dinesh Thapa demanding red card. Thapa had come outside the box and handed the ball.

RCT thrashes relegation-threatened United Youth Club 5-0

SOURCE: Republica

RCT made a strong presence in top eight with a convincing 5-0 win over minnow United Youth Club. Amar Dangol and African recruit David Nkong netted a brace each while substitute Sulav Jung Rana added another to seal the victory.

With the result, RCT with 27 points remained unchanged in the seventh place while United on the verge of relegation is constant in the 16th place with six points. Bottom four teams in the 18-team contest will be relegated. 

In the one-sided match, Dangol gave the lead to RCT in the very second minute when he met goalie Ajay Maharjan´s rebounder off Bhim Darlami´s left flank shot in the box. Dangol doubled the tally in the 37th minute through a header in Niraj Remi Magar´s corss. Dangol took his tally to seventh goal in the league. 

Nkong made it 3-0 in the fourth minute of the first-half injury time from the 6-yard box in a short pass of Shekhar Limbu. Nkong netted yet another nine minutes after the interval in fine combination of Dangol beating custodian Maharjan. Rana, the 68th minute replacement of Limbu sealed the victory two minutes after his entry in the ground.

RCT also squandered more than half a dozen of other scoring chances.

RCT coach Madhu Karki insisted that one more win could only secure its place in top eight. RCT meets Saraswoti in next match on Monday.

Sahukhala brace keeps MMC title hopes alive

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 9: Santosh Sahukhala scored twice for Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club´s (MMC) 2-0 win over Bauddha FC on Saturday which kept its title hopes alive in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League Football.

Playing equal 15 matches, second placed MMC narrowed its gap to three points against the leader Nepal Police Club. However, MMC´s title chance largely depends on Police´s next match against Three Star. If Police wins against the Patan-based club, the title race will almost be over before it taking on MMC in the last match on Sunday. Bauddha dropped a spot below to 11th with 20 points. 

Sahukhala opened the scoring for MMC in the 35th minute and ensured the victory four minutes from time with his 16th goal of the league, five behind highest scorer Jumanu Rai of Police. Sahukhala is the second highest league scorer.

Taking advantage of inexperienced Bauddha goalie Ranjit Shrestha who came outside the box to collect ball despite the presence of two defenders, Sahukhala cleverly hit the ball in an unattended post to put the team in charge. 

Sahukhala doubled tally in the 86th minute when his feeble shot in one-on-one with custodian Shrestha entered the net hitting the pole. 

"MMC scored both the goals taking advantage of goalie´s mistake," Bauddha coach Kiran Shrestha said adding, "Now, we are almost out of the top eight race."

MMC dominated the show in first-half and frequently took the ball to the danger zone. MMC squandered three scoring opportunities before the interval. Skipper Tashi Tsering header went above the bar in the early moments while Nirajan Khadka and Bijay Rai failed to connect a brilliant pass of Sujal Shrestha just ahead of the goalline. Similarly, Bijay Gurung´s powerful 25-yard shot was denied by the goalie. 

Bauddha showed some resistance during the middle of the second-half and created a few chances, but all in vain. Khum Gurung twice squandered scoring chances while Som Thapa´s header in Gurung´s cross from ahead of the goalline sailed above the bar. 

MMC´s assistant coach Devendra Jung Shahi said his side still has some chances. "We played better than last match," Shahi said.

Sahukhala misses next match

MMC´s vital forward Santosh Sahukhala will miss upcoming match against Brigade Boys Club on Wednesday after he was booked second yellow card of the league in the 22nd minute. Earlier, he was booked with yellow card in MMC´s third match against Armed Police Force in the 58th minute. On Saturday, MMC had missed forward Anil Gurung as he was shown second yellow card in previous match against New Road Team.

Police closer to league title

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 8: Jumanu Rai scored twice as Nepal Police Club (NPC) came from behind to beat New Road Team (NRT) 3-1 in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League on Friday to strengthen its title bid. 

With the win, Police are six points above the second placed Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC). Police has 41 points from 15 games while MMC has 35 points from 14 games in the tournament with altogether 18 teams. 

Meanwhile, Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club moved two spots up in the points table to the fourth after registering 4-2 victory over Nepal APF Club at the Dasharath Stadium. Himalayan Sherpa has 29 points from 15 games while APF is 12th in the league table with 15 points from 15 games. 

Likewise, Friends Club moved a spot above in the table to the eighth position defeating Bansbari 2-1 at the Halchowk Ground. Friends Club has 23 points from 15 games while Bansbari is 11th with 20 points from as many games.

In the late kick off at the Dasharath Stadium, Raghu Prajapati gave NRT an early lead against the leader. Prajapati converted penalty awarded to his team after NPC defender Suraj BK handled the ball inside the danger area in his attempts to clear Ashim Jung Karki´s shot.

However, leading goal scorer of the league Rai leveled the score for police from close range. Pradeep Baniya set up a scoring chance to Rai as he met cross from Yogesh Shrestha.

Baniya provided lead to Police in the very first minute of the second half. Baniya scored from the edge of the danger area with a powerful strike as NRT goalkeeper Raju Yogi slipped it from underarm.

Rai made it 3-1 in the 84th minute to seal the match. Rai scored on a solo effort from the danger area collecting a ball released by NPC goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa.
With the goal, Rai took his goals tally to 21 in the ongoing league and he is leading the tally.

"We were under pressure as we are in the title race. Bharat Khawas was also not available as he was suspended for double bookings in the tournament. However, we handled the pressure and Police is the only team in the league that can handle pressure," said NPC Coach Birat Krishna Shrestha.

"We could not handle pressure in the last minute of the first half and conceded silly goal in the first minute of the second half. And, we paid the price," said NRT Coach Raju Kaji Shakya. 

In the first match of the day, Deepak Rai scored twice for Himalayan Sherpa as the new sensation of ´A´ division defeated APF 4-2.

APF defender Nur Raj Kafle scored an own goal in the 19th minute of the match in his attempt to clear Jagjit Shrestha´s cross. Deepak Rai, then, doubled the tally beating APF custodian Samit Rajbhandari in the danger area. Rai found the ball in a back pass of APF defender Sudeep Shrestha in the 28th minute.

Rai made it 3-0 three minutes later. He scored his second in an unattended post as Rajbhandari had moved ahead of the post.

APF striker Ganesh Lawati converted a penalty in the 33rd minute after Sherpa´s goalie Rupak Shrestha brought down Niraj Shrestha inside the area in one-on-one encounter.

Sherpa´s Kigozi Ismail headed home an acute cross from Jagjit Shrestha in the 49th minute to make the score 4-1.

In the 62nd minute, Arjun Subba made it 4-2 through a header in a cross from Sudeep Sikhrakar.

"We are already safe from relegation zone and we can´t go to top eight. In this situation boys played a loose game," said APF Assistant Coach Janak Singh Tharu. 

"We capitalized almost every chance and utilized APF´s mistake," said Sherpa´s Coach Upendra Man Singh, who expects finishing the ongoing league on either the third or the fourth position. 

At the Halchowk Ground, Tanka Bahadur Syangten and Ajad Pradhan scored in the ninth and 26th minutes for Friends Club to beat Bansbari 2-1. Binod Lama scored in the 66th minute to give Bansbari a hope of comeback but the team could not level the score.

Ghale´s remark ruffles ANFA feathers

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has expressed serious concern over the recent remark of Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) President Tashi Ghale. Ghale had accused ANFA and referee of conspiring to bar his side from lifting the trophy after his team´s 1-1 draw to New Road Team on Tuesday.

“Ghale´s accusation against ANFA is baseless,” ANFA said in a statement issued on Thursday. ANFA has also warned Ghale not to give such remark in future.

Machhindra coach has decided to quit

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATMANDU, July 7: Machhindra coach Chhiring Lopsang has decided to quit his job over the management´s interference with the team.

“I am no more the coach of the team,” Lopsang told reporters. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the management for fielding players of their choice. 

“A coach should be allowed to choose players and assign them roles that suit them. But the management fielded players against my wish,” said the coach. Meanwhile, assistant coach Narottam Shakya denied that Lopsang had quit his job.

“We are still to discuss the issue with him,” Shakya said. 

Easy win for Three Star, RCT, Saraswoti

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, July 7: Mega Three Star Club and Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) registered impressive wins on Thursday in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League Football Tournament at the Dasharath Stadium.

In the day´s kick off, Three Star thrashed G5 Machhindra FC 7-0 with a hat-trick from Buddha Chemjong. Other goals came from Yogesh Gurung, Biraj Maharjan, Anil Ojha and substitute Pradip Maharjan. Chemjong´s hat-trick also became 17th in the league and his ninth goal.

The three goals in the initial 20 minutes sealed RCT´s 3-1 win over minnow Brigade Boys Club. Bhim Darlami netted twice in the 15th and 20th minute while defender Ntolo Ngoumou scored in the 18th minute. Yalamber Rai hit the consolation for BBC three minutes from time.

Following the wins, both Three Star and RCT moved a step ahead in the points table. Three Star, with 31 points, moved to the third place pushing behind Jawalakhel with 29 points to fourth after completion of 14 rounds. RCT with 24 points moved to seventh just ahead of Nepal Army Club that stands eighth.

Machhindra remained steady in the relegation line while Brigade in 14th place with 10 points.

In the soggy ground, Three Star took the match under control from the beginning. The team opened score in the early ninth minute through Gurung who slammed in a powerful shot from the box after controlling an acute pass of Bishad Gauchan.

National defender Biraj saw his 40-yard shot entering the net taking an uneven height after bouncing in the box and rolling above goalie Ibrahim Bashir´s head who was moving forward to collect it.

Chemjong netted his first goal two minutes before interval through spot-kick after Bikram Lama was fouled by Sunil Sardar in the box. Chemjong netted fourth for the team in the 59th from short distance in Yogesh Gurung´s pass set by Gauchan. Chemjong completed hattrick in the 75th from close range in a pass of Pradip.

National player Ojha scored in the 78th, beating two defenders and goalie Bashir. Pradip who came as a replacement of George Ssempala in the 56th minute headed to seal the wide margin victory seven minutes from time in Bijay Dhimal´s cross.

Three Star and national team custodian Kiran Chemjong twice made brilliant diving saves to deny Uzen Lama and Pukar Ale´s second half shot.

"All the members of the squad were quite serious after 4-0 defeat to Armed Police Force in the last match so we were able to achieve wide victory," Three Star coach Meghraj KC said, adding, "Now our place among top eight has been confirmed."

Machhindra assistant coach Narottam Shakya attributed the defeat to bad luck and soggy ground conditions. "We are still hoping to avoid the relegation," Shakya said whose side was promoted to the top flight in 2062 BS.

RCT, which was forced to wait until five matches for earning three full points, made an impressive start. Bhim Darlami directed the ball towards net from close distance to open scoring in the 12th minute while Ntolo Ngoumou doubled the tally three minutes later through a brilliant freekick from the edge of box. Darlami netted another in the 20th utilizing Ngomou´s corner.

BBC got the consolation during last moment after RCT goalie Prem Kumar Tamang chasing the header of Yalamber fell on the slippery ground and the ball entered net before he could recover.

"The victory has come as a great relief for us and I hope the team gets place in the top eight as we will face comparatively weaker teams like Untied, Saraswoti and Bauddha in the upcoming matches," RCT coach Madhu Karki said.

Saraswoti thumps Swayambhu

At the Halchowk ground, newcomer Saraswoti Youth Club thumped Swayambhu Club 4-1 showing a strong sign of avoiding the relegation, the ultimate aim of club in its first season.

Saraswoti, with 11 points, remained constant in the 13th place while Swayambhu is third from last with five points.

Yona Elias Mdabila gave 15th minute lead to Saraswoti through spot-kick after Bordneen Fransis fouled Mdabila in box. Three other goals came in the second half. Muhammad Naveed, Durgalal Shrestha and Ramesh Tamang netted one each in the 49th, 57th and 88th minute respectively. Babulal Hasda hit the only goal for Swayambhu in the 68th minute.