Surprise Package Madhyapur Youth Association – How did they Surprised?

This is a Guest Post By Subas Humagain. He is a Tottenham Fan. You can also send your guest post here.

13-Sep-2012, 03:00 PM at Dasrath Stadium. The inauguration ceremony went off and The inaugural match of NCell Cup 2069 kicked off. The two teams on the fray were Three Star Club, one of the most successful club and regarded to be title contender in this tournament with experienced players was against Madhyapur Youth Association, newly promoted side with great academy and young players. The game was on hands of Three Star all the time with all the possession they had but could not break into the five men defense which is seen rarely in Nepali Football implemented well by Upendra Man Singh, ex-HSC and National Team Asst. Coach. The defense seemed to break each and every attack that Three Star had gone for until their Sweeper Saroj limped off injured in sideline and Three Star broke off a attack which was ended by Bikram Lama after a great 1-2 with Santosh Shahukhal. As the Sweeper position was left void the young goalie could not do anything except get near the ball and watch it go just above his hand. He had a great game with some good saves then. The game seemed to end with Three Star substituting their full back Biraj and just holding onto ball but what came was shocking for everyone in the stadium. Balgopal maharjan shot  the ball just as he got from near the 40 yard area and the shot deflected past Bijay Dhimal and went on the path of Jeevan Sinkeman who was left unmarked and he just fired the shot past Kiran Chemjong which was the first shot they had on target throughout the match. The draw was a great result for MYA unlike TSC and they celebrated with great belief upon them.

The next match was against APF, considered to be one of the most physical sides and MYA had one eye on victory and probably securing berth for Quarterfinals. They had a bad start after their experienced midfielder BalGopal was taken to hospital just after 15 minute mark and the substitute who replaced him got on the score sheet on 27^th minute. The Legendary Nepalese striker got in the end of Raj Ghising’s curling freekick and all MYA had to do was stop APF attack and try counter attack which they did well enough with heroics of goalie Bikesh Kuthu. With other results in the group seeming to go their way MYA had their one foot on QF and had to take a point away from Friends to make it confirmed and they did it after a 1-1 draw with friend just a day after their win against APF. The bou Kuthu was out of the world that day and seemed to take the chance of National Team with both hands if team came calling.

At this time, no-one at the start would have predicted that MYA would to pthe group ahead of big 3 clubs in Nepal and secure themselves a QF spot in meaga money A division Knockout Tournament. They were one of the best defending team with combinatipn of Young Expereinced sweeper Saroj Dahal and two young CBs Sanjay Rajbahak and Bibek Pratap Panta, who was the best defender in B Division league where MYA got the promotion from. They had Army to face in QF who were boosted by the arrival of National Team’s star striker Bharat Khawas  and saw off MYA in last tournament, on extra time though. MYA had no pressure and they just had to play with the game and stop them froms coring and counter attack well. The game went off regular time and AET goal-less and onto the spot kick battle.  The bench of both sides looked confident but MYA Goalie Bikesh Kuthu who had been outstanding in earlier game stood on the occasion and saved the last penalty off Raju Tamang to secure a SF berth for MYA. The 4-3  win made the supporters, who came to support them every game and were exceptionally well during the tournament.

The hero off the pitch was very happy on the job done by his boys. He earlier had done the same with Himalayan Sherpa Club who won the top division knockout title just after getting promotion to top flight. The condition now and then are vastly different but when you enter into the pitch its 11v11 and the team which can show the game within the allocated time wins it no matter what quality of player they have and what financial backing they have. The tournament has been full of shocks and MYA has been making their name on top with some wonderful performance from their defensive unit.  If the Midfield and Forward give some more effort along with this exceptional defensive unit we might just find another name in the history of Nepali Football from the club in the valley within short period of its establishment. The tournament might end up with triumph or despair viewing the result but the supporters and players of MYA surely have won hearts of the football lovers in Nepal.