KATHMANDU: A total of 17 clubs will participate in the National League football tournament, which the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) plans to begin on January 9.
Initially, only 10 teams, the top six from the last A Division League and the four semifinalists of the ANFA President’s Cup, were set to compete. However, following rounds of discussions involving ANFA, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and protests from the Football Players’ Association, the football governing body decided to open the league to other A Division clubs as well.
Out of the remaining eight A Division clubs, seven registered for the competition, increasing the total number to 17. Himalayan Sherpa Club is the only team that did not register, ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah said.
According to ANFA, the league will now feature 13 A Division clubs and four teams from the President’s Cup. From the last A Division League, Church Boys United, Machhindra Club, Nepal Police Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Satdobato Youth Club, and New Road Team (NRT) had finished in the top six and were already eligible.
Similarly, Laligurans Youth Club, Chitlang FC, Nava Janajagriti Club, and Kakrebihar Sports Club qualified by reaching the semifinals of the President’s Cup.
The seven newly added A Division clubs for the National League are Tribhuvan Army Club, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Sankata Club, Friends Club, APF Club, Planning Boys Club, and Shree Bhagwati Club. Planning Boys and Shree Bhagwati were promoted from the B Division League, while Three Star Club and FC Khumaltar were relegated in the previous season.
ANFA has said that the National League will be held first, after which the next edition of the A Division League will be organized.
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