Irony – The Lack of Knowledge in Nepalese Football

This is a guest post by Bishnu Khadka, you can submit us your articles as well. Submit it here

I was in Holiday a week before to my home town Biratnagar where Football is so much loved. The kids, the youths, and the adults every one of they manage some time to play this game.

When I got to back to my home town, I just get engaged with my friends; usually I have this one friend, 20 years old, complete youngster.

The irony is that when I asked him if he could name all the A division league teams from Nepal, he could barely answer five. ‘Three Star, MMC, Machhindra or Mahindra, Saraswati, Jawalakhel’ was exactly what he answered me. May be the list could have been reduced to three but he could add Saraswati and Jawalakhel in the list because I compelled him to watch Saraswati v Jawalakhel match which Saraswati won by 2-1.

It is not that he does not watch Football or he is not interested in. He could answer all the 20 teams in the Premier league and even the starting eleven of most of the top clubs including Manchester United which he follows.

So what could be the reason Nepali Football has not been marketed to the youth of this age which is proven to enjoy the Football most?

Firstly I would blame the centralized league which is all limited to Kathmandu. It could be called a ‘Kathmandu League’ rather than ‘A Divison league Nepal’. The teams are all in Kathmandu, the players are all in Kathmandu, the matches are all played in Kathmandu and the most matches are not live. There is no way anyone could watch the match.

All I see is the league as a formality which ANFA completes just to show it has completed its duty. I do not see any sign of improvement or any extra effort added for the betterment of Football.

It is too ruthless to say that Biratnagar City is the second largest city, it has some stadiums, the stadium even is crowded for the school level matches, the football is played and loved here but majority of the people here could not even name all the A division league teams.

I am clearly aware that the two legged matches are not that easy to come into action, but ANFA could settle up a super cup; let’s say where the league winner and the Ncell cup winner fight and those matches could be hosted in places where Football is much loved just for the sake of Promotion.

Besides, some matches and other knock out tournaments could be organized outside the valley just to gather some interest away from Kathmandu in Nepalese Football.

I did my best to promote Nepalese Football, at least to my friends from my circle. May be I should not blame it directly but all I see is the people in ANFA are the only ones who does not care about the improvement, every other people does.

Do you Agree with Bishnu Khadka ? How do you think we could promote Nepalese Football outside the valley.