NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

ANFA DISPUTE

Battle Over Due Process

The government threatens to delegitimize the football association led by Ganesh Thapa

By KESHAB POUDEL

When Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is challenging his opponents in the House of Representatives to follow the rules of the game to oust him, his lieutenant in the Ministry of Sports and Education is making every effort to oust the legitimately elected All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) led by veteran national soccer player Ganesh Thapa and to legalize the ANFA ad-hoc committee set up in its place.

There is a tinge of irony in the standoff between the government and Ganesh Thapa. While Thapa is being victimized by Koirala's minister on the football ground, Koirala is under pressure from opposition groups including the RPP, of which Ganesh Thapa's brother Kamal is a powerful member.

Despite the interim order of the Supreme Court on maintaining the status quo on issues concerning ANFA's status, the government seems determined to use every means to delegitimize the ANFA led by Thapa and end its influence in the country.

Thapa a press conference : Clipped authority

Thapa was elected in the presence of representatives from the International Football Federation and Asian Football Confederation FIFA\AFC on October 16 in defiance of the government's wishes. The government responded by sending the police into the ANFA complex. Although the government formed a parallel committee to challenge Thapa, FIFA and AFC have recognized him as a legitimate president of ANFA.

"When one of Koirala's ministers is using bullying tactics to replace the rule of law, how can the prime minister argue against the use of similar methods against him in parliament by the opposition?" asked advocate Bishnu Bhattarai, Thapa's lawyer.

As Thapa secured his protection through an interim order from the apex court, the government is making every possible effort to stop the Thapa-led ANFA's activities. The government and the National Sports Council prevented Thapa from renting the national stadium to organize birthday cup football tournament. Because of this, ANFA is organizing the tournament at Bharatpur.

"We are now in the process of deregulate the ANFA led by Thapa and there will be only one ANFA soon," Minister of State for Sports and Education Dilendra Prasad Badu said at a press conference last week. "We have already asked the International Football Federation (FIFA) to register the ANFA led by Geeta Rana."

Although the court has already issued an interim order, the minister and other officials backed by the government seem to in a determined move to kick Thapa out.

The Thapa-led ANFA, too, is making efforts to show its existence in the country. Despite the government's adversarial attitude, Thapa is now organizing different programs to attract the football players. "As the legitimate football organization, we are making efforts to start football tournaments in different parts of the country," said Thapa. "We are committed to the development of football."

With the intervention of Minister of State Badu, the member-secretary of the National Sports Council set up an ad-hoc ANFA committee by bringing together candidates defeated in the ANFA convention that elected Thapa as its president.

In democracy, the rule of law must prevail -- be it in parliament or in the football association. If Prime Minister Koirala wants a fair game in parliament, he must ask his minister to uphold democratic practices in ANFA.

SNOOKER CONTEST

Pool Popularity

Surya Tobacco Company is organizing the first Surya Nepal Snooker Challenge 2001

By AKSHAY SHARMA

Snooker, pool or billiards has become popular around the country. And it is now one of the most popular games among the youth. "Earlier there used to be only six or seven tables available in clubs. Now the sport has become more popular because there are more than 800 tables in Kathmandu alone. We have been trying to introduce the sport for more than a decade now. And we have definitely seen improvements," said Ang Kami Sherpa, executive member of Billiards, Snooker and Pool Association speaking to SPOTLIGHT about how the game became popular in the country.

Snooker players : Getting popular

Surya Tobacco Company is organizing the first Surya Nepal Snooker Challenge 2001. The Surya Tobacco Company has been organizing a brigade of other sport events like this before. The event began on March 1 and will continue until March 17 for participants in Katmandu only.

"It's always been Surya Tobacco Company's endeavor to provide the best sporting experience to the people of Nepal by organizing International Class Tournaments like the Surya Nepal Masters Golf tournament or the Kukhuri Gold Cup. We wish to expand our portfolio of international class tournaments by introducing our first but this event will be held annually," said Binod Jung Thapa, the senior branch manager of Surya Tobacco Company.

The event has an entry fee of 300 rupees. "The entry fee will be kept by the clubs and the rest of the amount will be deposited to the Snooker Association," said Dinesh Gurung.

"The situation in the country is the main reason behind our games being delayed. The controversies arising in the sports in the country is a major set back for organizing events. Recently football player refused to play football and these types of scenarios are holding us back from organizing such events like this," says Thapa.

"We expect 1,000 participants. We plan to make it an annual event in other major cities in the country," pledges Thapa.

The tournament boasts of cash prizes, runner-ups and prizes for the highest break in the game. The total prize money will be Rs 172,000

Rajesh Bajracharya of the Snooker Association said, "We have changed a few rules and regulations. Like if you hit the cue ball and it bounced back from the wood we considered it as a foul. But we are applying new rules on a handbook provided to us by the Asian Federation."

The game is to organized at: The Cosmos Solarium, Tripureswor - Exclusive Snooker, Sundhara, - Everest Snooker, Thamel - Plaza Snooker, Baudha - Garden Snooker and Pool at Naya Bazaar, Chetrapati Lounge Snooker, Chetrapati, - Black and White Snooker and Pool, - Boudha, - Greenland Snooker and Pool, Baneswor, - Heaven's Snooker, Kumaripati, - Classic Snooker, Kirtipur, Naasal Snooker, Putalisadak, -The Circle, Chabahil, Dragon Snooker, Maharajgunj, Centre Point Snooker and Pool House, Ratna Park and The Snooker Maze, Jyatha respectively.

"I have already filled out the registration procedures and I have been practicing my moves," said Roshan Subha of Bagbazar.