ANFA: All Nepal Football Association

2021-02-25

Bagmati Province Football Association ad-hoc committee formed

All Nepal Football Association formed a Bagmati Province Football Association ad-hoc committee on Thursday.

The decision to form the committee was sanctioned by the ANFA's Executive Committee meeting on January 18.

Rajendra Shrestha (Makwanpur) has been nominated as the Chairperson of the committee while Dipak Chitrakar (Nuwakot) is the Senior Vice Chairperson. Niraj Shrestha (Kavre), Sahadev Byanjankar (Lalitpur), Amrit Man Shrestha (Sindhupalchok) and Manraj Godar (Dhading) are the Vice Chairpersons of the committee.

Shree Krishna Karki (Chitwan) has been nominated as the Treasurer, Govinda Shrestha (Dolakha) and Dipendra Dhakal (Makwanpur) as Secretaries, Diwas Sagar Shrestha (Dhading) as Vice Treasurer.

Similarly, Lakshu Devkota (Sindhuli), Babu Raja Shrestha (Dolakha), Labraj Thakuri (Makwanpur), Sudip Rajbahak (Makwanpur), Ajab Shrestha (Kathmandu), Babu Krishna Maharjan (Lalitpur), Kishor Hekka (Bhaktapur), Anil Shakya (Chitwan) and Jiwan Lama (Nuwakot) are the members of the committee.

2021-02-25

10-man RCT triumph Nayabasti, Boys Union hammer Jhamsikhel

Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT) defeated Nayabasti Yuva Club 4-2 in a thrilling first match of the Martyr's Memorial 'B' Division League match on Thursday.

Divine Boys Union Club thrashed Jhamsikhel Youth Club 4-0 in another match of the day.

In the first match, Ajit Gurung opened the scoring for RCT in the sixth minute. Ganesh Hamal levelled for Nayabasti in the 19th. Nayabasti took the lead in the 50th minute only for Suren Khawas to equalize for RCT in the 67th minute. The equalizer came after RCT were awarded an indirect free-kick from inside the box after Nayabasti's goalkeer Bikesh Shrestha was penalized for holding the ball for more than six seconds.

A minute later, RCT's Ashish Chapagain was shown a straight red for a foul on Basanta Ojha. Nayabasti upped the pressure but a spirited RCT found the net through Bishwo Thapa seven minutes from full time. Gurung added a fourth for RCT three minutes later to complete the victory for the team.

RCT coach Sulav Jung Rana said they desperately needed a win and his players delivered against Nayabasti. "Despite being a man down, my players showed the hunger to win the game. We are delighted with the victory," said Rana.

Nayabasti's coach Chet Narayan Shrestha said the indirect free-kick awarded for the six second rule was the turning point of the game. "The referee should have warned him instead of giving the free-kick. The equalizer gave the boost they needed," said Shrestha.

In the second match of the day, substitute Binod Rai scored a hat-trick for Boys Union in their victory over Jhamsikhel.

Skipper Tanka Bahadur Singdan scored the opening in the 26th minute. Substitute Rai, who came into the field in the 61st minute, scored three minutes after coming into the pitch. He added two more in the added minutes to complete his hat-trick.

Both coaches admitted their players lacked fitness in today's match. Boys Union's Sagar Ghimire said the extended break due to the pandemic affected their players. "We converted scoring opportunities. Our players' fitness level will improve as we progress in the league," said Ghimire.

Jhamsikhel's coach Purushottam Thapa said his team failed to create chances. "They had chances and they converted them. We lacked the sharpness up front," said Thapa.

2021-02-25

Gary Phillips appointed head coach of women's national team

Australian National Gary Philips, who has been serving as the Technical Director of the All Nepal Football Association since 2019, has been given another responsbility by the association. Starting today, Phillips has been appointed as the head coach of the Nepali National Women's team for a one-year term.

Philips was recommended by the five-member ANFA technical committee including Krishna Thapa, Kumar Raj Bhandari, Upendra Man Singh, Dinesh Byanjankar and Arjun Lama. As per Phillips' new contract starting 1 Jan 2021 with ANFA, a clause agreeing to take charge of any senior National Team has been mentioned.

Phillips has working experience with clubs in Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines. He has also served as the manager of Papua New Guinea’s national women’s team. Prior to coaching roles in South East Asia, he worked in the coach education department of AFC.

Meanwhile, the closed camp training of women's national team will also start soon to prepare for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Championship 2022 Qualifiers.

2021-02-24

Bansbari, Shree Kumari register win

Around The Himalaya Bansbari Club defeated Tusal Youth Club 3-1 in the Martyr's Memorial 'B' Division Club on Wednesday.

Bhisma Raj Ghimire scored twice and Anil Gurung scored in the win for Bansbari. Sunil Dhami scored a consolation for Tusal.

Ghimire scored the opening goal in the fifth minute and made it 2-0 in the 34th. Gurung added a third in the 54th minute. Substitute Dhami scored a spectacular in the 70th minute for Tusal. Dhami latched a strong right-footed shot after a fine solo run from the midline.

Tusal could have scored their second through a penalty in the 87th but Alone Rai's shot was saved by Bansbari's goalkeeper Roshan Nepal.

Bansbari coach Yugal Kishore Rai said they were delighted to scored three points after the resumption of the league. "Winning points in the very first match is what we had wanted. We will improve as the fitness of my players improve," said Rai.

Tusal's coach Naresh Shrestha said they lacked coordination in today's match. "Our wingers could not receive the ball as we had wanted. That cost us the match," said Shrestha.

After six round of matches, Bansbari are third with 14 points. Tusal are fifth with eight points.

In the second match of the day, Ashish Rai scored four goals as Shree Kumari Club defeated Shree Bhagwati Club 4-1. Rai scored in the 20th, 53rd, 64th and 77th minute for Shree Kumari. Nawaraj Gurung scored a consolation in the added minutes for Shree Bhagwati.

Shree Kumari's coach Sandesh Kumar Shrestha their first half-an-hour was best football they had played in the tournament. "The first minutes were really good. We had changed some players and it suited our plan," said Shrestha.

Shree Bhagwati's coach Sailesh Karmacharya said their midfield could not play as expected. "Our midfield was really weak. We also lacked defensive coordination," said Karmacharya.

The win takes Shree Kumari to eight with six points from six matches. Shree Bhagwati are 10th with five.