Long Drawn Out Battle
ANFA introduces ‘home and away’ system for the first time in national football league
By A CORRESPONDENT
National football league tournaments in previous years used to be just over two-month affair. But this year, the annual Martyr Memorial National Football League Tournament promises to be a long drawn out battle between the A Division Clubs in the country.
With the intention of aligning with the international practice, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has introduced the ‘home and away’ system – based on which two teams will need to play two matches. Since the clubs in Nepal do not own their own grounds, both ‘home’ and ‘away’ matches will be played at the National Dasarath Stadium.
The fifteen A Division Clubs will have to play 28 matches each. The ANFA has brought out the calendar for the first phase of the league – which will end on December 13, along with one month break during Dashain. The calendar of the second phase is yet to be published. As such, the tournament promises to stretch well into a number of months.
Sports experts and analysts have welcomed the introduction of new system. But they are apprehensive whether the clubs in the country can be able to sustain ‘huge expenditures’ that come with participating in league tournaments. Because of growing professionalism, the star footballers demand hefty sum for playing from a particular club. The ANFA has provided only Rs 150,000 as preparation expenses to each club.
“The clubs are going to have difficult times as they will need extra resources to pay salaries and meet the expenditures during the league tournament, which is going to extend into a couple of months,” said Sanu Bhai Thapa, coach of Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC).
As promised by the ANFA president Ganesh Thapa, the stakes for this year’s league tournament have been raised. The winning team this year will be awarded with the cash prize of Rs 1 million – the highest prize money ever to be awarded on league. Likewise, the Best Player will be provided a car whereas five other individual players selected on different disciplines will be given a motorcycle each.
The initial matches show the growing professionalism and quality among the A Division Clubs. The distance between the top performers and stragglers is also narrowing as suggested by some upset results. The JYC – which is regarded as an Underdog – defeated the much-fancied Gyanendra Armed Police Club. The arrival of a number of foreign players – mostly Africans – in some of the clubs have also added interest and excitement in the games.
Of the total 15 teams, two who end up at the lowest rung in terms of points will be relegated to the B Division while two new teams will be elevated from B to A Division.
Pre-Departure Orientation
As growing number of Nepalese women are leaving for overseas jobs, the need for providing them pre-departure orientation has been starkly felt. Speaking at a program recently organized by UNIFEM and Sancharika Samuha, officials and stakeholders agreed on the importance of such orientation and training.
“There are instances where Nepalese women who have gone to overseas for work – particularly those working as house maids - have suffered just because they did not have training on use of modern home appliances,” said Sharu Joshi Shrestha, of UNIFEM.
There are over 100 private institutes that provide pre-departure orientation and training to men and women who plan to go overseas for jobs.
“By providing such orientation, women would become confident and be able to excel in their jobs,” said Babita Basnet, general secretary of Sancharika Samuha.
Dipendra Thapa, director general of the Department for Labor and Employment Promotion, also laid emphasis on providing necessary training. “Sending such trained manpower would ultimately strengthen the whole sector and will benefit workers, manpower companies and society,” he said.
