February 17, 2006

Bouddha and Mahavir clubs are relegated to 'B' division while the race for the top spot is still on

By A CORRESPONDENT

The poor performance and consequent loss at 4-0 of Bouddha Football Club (BFC) in the match against the strong Tribhuwan Army Club (TIC) Sunday, ended its chance to stay in 'A' division this year. Likewise, Mahavir Club too was relegated after it was trounced 5-0 by New Road Team (NRT).

Players in action : Enriching experience

Having lost nineteen of the twenty six matches of the Martyr's Memorial San Miguel "A" Division League Football tournament- the largest football tournament of the country, BFC with meager 11 points has become the first team to be relegated this year. After BFC, Mahavir Club with the score of 22 points was shown the door. It could bag 22 points after playing all of its 28 matches.

BFC had climbed to 'A' division after topping the C and B division tournaments consecutively in the previous two years. Although, BFC has two more matches to play in the tournament, the performance in these matches cannot rescue it from the sad tale of relegation.

The 15 teams- 12 "A" Division Clubs, three Departmental teams of Mahendra Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club and newly joined Gyanendra Armed Police Force- will play a total of 210 matches with 28 each in the first round of the league.

Nabil Three Star Club, the defending champion, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Tribhuwan Army Club and Mahendra Police Club are in stiff competition for the victory with 61, 59, 60 and 59 points respectively. The race for the top title has been unusually stiff this year. The TAC and MPC having played goalless draw on Tuesday’s match are staring at chances of TSC and MMC. The defending title holder TSC still seems to be the best bet for the award.

In the tournament with the highest cash award in any sports events in the country, the winner will get a hefty cash award of one million rupees. Runner-up team will grab seven lakhs while 2nd runner-up will get five lakhs rupees. All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the organizer of the tournament, has also decided to give away prize money to top-listed teams up-to eighth position. Forth position team will walk away with 3 lakhs while fifth position team will get 2 lakhs. One lakh for sixth, 50,000 each for Seventh and Eight position teams are assured. ANFA will provide 50,000 Nepalese Rupees for the team that bags “Fair play” title. The attractive prizes have increased professionalism among the players.

Meanwhile, ANFA, which had decided to spare six motorbikes for best goalkeeper, Defense, mid-field, forward, best scorer and best coach of the league and a car to the best all round player, has withheld the decision to give motorcycle to the best scorer after it suspected match fixing for scoring maximum goals. Recently, it has decided to give a car worth Rs. 23,50,000 to the best player with 50 per cent money sponsored by Vaidhya's organization.

With the suspicions of match-fixing lingering in the air, the ANFA needs to take stern action to defeat efforts that could kill the sportsmanship. In an apparently fixed match on Monday, Macchindra Police club (which was on the lower rung of the score card facing relegation) defeated reasonably stronger team RCT by 9-8 goals. The match also saw RCT’s Rishi Rai netting 8 goals, which made him leading goal scorer.

Such match-fixing would tarnish the image of football and ANFA in the days ahead if not checked immediately. This year also marked the first time ANFA held a prolonged league that was played on the basis of home and away. Each team played with another team twice during the protracted league tournament.