Players and soccer duck in crossfire of two ANFAs

BY NARAYAN UPADHAYA

The already troubled national soccer took an ignoble twist following the national soccer players’ joint statement that said the players would not to take part in any tournament until and unless a single soccer body looks after the football activities. The players’ warning has worsened the matters for two soccer bodies, both of them are known as All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). On the other hand, it has added fuel to the fire to the ongoing ANFA controversy that has marred the nation’s footballing activities so far.

As the World Cup Qualifying Schedule closes in, the statement of players, "who want to play for nation and not for association", has got larger implications. They actually do not want to be the victims of the crossfire of two ANFAs. Ostensibily, the national soccer and players in the country have ducked in the growing crossfire between two soccer bodies. And the crisis has deepened by the non-performance from the government’s high soccer body, the National Sports Council, which has itself has come under fire for its involvement in the financial irregularities.

If the players remain united until their demands are met, Ganesh Thapa will face a hell lot of problems even if the former soccer captain is enjoying the luxury of supports and recognition from the Asian football governing body, AFC’s, as well as the world soccer body FIFA’s.

Both soccer bodies recognise Thapa’s ANFA instead of Geeta Rana’s as the offcial soccer body of Nepal. Though Rana is the head of the government recognised ANFA, she has no real power of forming an national team to send abroad because of the lack of AFC and FIFA recognition. Rana, after knowing that she has no power to send a team,has been reported as saying that she would accept the team selected by Thapa’s organisation.

And Thapa hinted earlier that he had no trouble in taking a team abroad selcted by Rana. Actually, here lies the problem for Rana: if she allows Thapa to take the team outside, the step will boost Thapa image as the real head of Nepalese soccer. Even as both factions were accepting each other’s measures to form a team, the players’ warning came as bolt from the blue to them. These Players fear that they would suffer in the long run because of the ANFA politics which has truly united them.

If the present crisis is any indication to go by, it is really very difficult to form single national soccer body, which has both AFC/FIFA supports and government’s backing. Thapa, who has been alleged for corruption financial impropriety, refuses to budge and some time shows his arrogance because of his links with AFC bosses.

His relationship may have grown stronger because of Nepalese soccer body to cast vote for FIFA boss election next year. Thapa is believed to have close relationship with AFC Genral Secretary, Peter Velappan, who is himself a strong supporter of current FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. And Blatter is looking for next term as FIFA’s chief executive boss.

Notwithstanding the AFC and FIFA supports, the Thapa’s ANFA has, however, become a toothless tiger. It has failed to run its football programmes because of the National Sports Council’s denial to let it hold its programmes. In fact, the member secretary of NSC, Binod Shankar Palikhe refuses to accept the existence of Thapa’s organisation. Thapa’s woe has increased with the Nepal Olympic Committee boss Rukam Shumsher Rana negating Thapa’s prowess to take any team outside the country without the consent of the NOC. He is of the opinion that only Rana’s ANFA is legal organisation to run the footballing activites in the nation. The ongoing ANFA rivalry took another turn after Thapa met with AFC General Secretary Velappan recenlty in Malaysia.

Amidst continuing war of words, the only ray of hope was soon-to be-held ANFA elections for its executive body. But even after the Rana led ad hoc committee holds elections,Thapa said, the new body would not be recognised by the AFC. NOC boss Rukma had earlier said that AFC would accept the result of elections if some points are included in the ANFA statute which would be acceptable to AFC. Thapa refused to buy even this suggestion of NOC President. He said that since AFC brands Rana led ANFA as illegal there is no scope for any acceptance of any points to hold the elections held under Rana led committee.

However, Thapa has his own solutions to the present crisis. According to Thapa, the present crisis will be solved through an elections that must be held after dissolving the Rana led ad hoc committee and reverting to ANFA complex to his organisation. Only then, Thapa said, AFC would recognise the new ANFA committee. But it does not seem that Rana led organisation will be dissolved and the ANFA complex will go back to Thapa and Company in near future. And Thapa said he and his allies would not take part in the elections unless these demands are fulfilled.

With the claims and counter claims from ANFA rival camps brewing every passing days, the government has become a silent spectator. It has failed to convince AFC and FIFA that Rana is the official boss of ANFA and therefore must have their supports for holding national and international football activities. The real solutions of the present problems lies when the government and its concerend authority becomes succesful in convincing the international soccer organisations about the legality and official-ness of the Rana led association, the soon-to be-held ANFA elections will be organised in a free and fair manner, and results of this elections will be accepted by one and all.Only them the present soccer crisis will come to an end.