Football is one of the famous games all over the world. Then and now, football has been able to connect people around the world. Games and sports are the oldest recreational activities all over the world. These days, Nepalese youths are showing more interest in sports activities and football is one of them. Here, let’s know more about the Nepali football Team and SAFF championship.
Football in Nepal
Talking about Nepal football, we come 171st among 211 countries, according to FIFA in men’s football ranking. As in Women’s football ranking, it is 92nd among 142 countries. Nepal football is gradually improving now compared to the past years. We have seen some impressive performances in recent national matches like the South Asian Games.
In Nepal, we have about 17 football stadiums approximately. Moreover, there are new projects for sports as well. There are different football academies that provide training to those who want to make football their career or want to learn football. However, the initial start-up of football came in Nepal during the Rana regime in 1921.
Enjoyed by a huge mass of Nepalese audience, the game became very popular in a short period. It is believed that the pioneer of football in our country was Narayan Narshingh Rana from Thamel and Chandrajung Thapa from Naxal. Before, palaces around the country were used as football stadiums for exclusive palace teams.
In the decade of 1930s, both local teams and palace teams commonly used the grounds of Singha Durbar, Chhauni, Gaucharan, Jawalakhel, and Lainchaur for playing football. Football development in Nepal saw growth possibility only after ANFA started working from the root level.
Regulatory Bodies for Football in Nepal
Talking, about the regulatory bodies in Nepal, there are two bodies All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the Nepal Sports Council that regulate football in Nepal.
All Nepal Football Association
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) (अखिल नेपाल फुटबल संघ (एन्फा)) is the governing body of football in Nepal. ANFA is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions. The organization has been running since 1951 and became affiliated with FIFA in 1972. It provides administration, coaching, and management education to encourage people to pursue a career and build an interest in Nepali football.
ANFA Members
| Club Members | A division, B division, and C division |
| District | Baglung, Bara, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Dhading, Dhanusa, Gorkha, Jhapa, Kailali, Kaski, Kavre, Lalitpur, Mahottari, Manang, Nawalparasi, Nuwakot, Panchthar, Rautahat, Saptari, Shankhuwasabha, Sindhupalchowk, Sunsari, Syangja, Taplejung, Banke, Bardiya, Bhojpur, Dang, Dhankuta, Dolakha, Ilam, Jumla, Kanchanpur, Kathmandu, Khotang, Lamjung, Makawanpur, Morang, Nawalpur, Palpa, Parsa, Rupandehi, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, Siraha, Surkhet, Tanahun, Udayapur |
| Association | Women, Referee, Coach, and Players |
| Committee | Judiciary Committee, Club Licensing Body, and Standing Committee |
Nepal Sports Council
Another body that regulates football in Nepal is Nepal Sports Council. NSC is only a governmental authentic sports organization of Nepal. It has a great contribution to develop and uplift Nepalese sports.
FIFA World Cup 2022; When will Nepal Qualify?
Nepal Sports Council members
| Patron | Hon. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuwa |
| Chairman | Hon. Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports. |
| Vice-chairman | Mr. Siva Koirala (Jwala) |
| Member Secretory | Mr. Ramesh Kumar Silwal |
| Other | Board members and Executive members |
Nepal National Football Players
Football-one of the loved games in Nepal. Yes, definitely every age, gender, race enjoys football in Nepal. Nepal is a member of the Football International Federation Association, South Asian Football Federation, and Asian Football Confederation. Nepal is improving its game when we compare then and now. Now, let us look at the Nepali Football Team, male and female.
Nepali Football Team And The Ongoing SAFF Championship
Head coach of the men’s national team, Abdullah Almutairi has announced the final squad for SAFF Championship. Bikesh Kuthu and Rajan Gurung have been left from the squad currently in closed camp training in Doha, Qatar. SAFF Championship is starting on October 1, 2021. Nepal has never been in the final of the Championship.
Final Squad
| Kiran Kumar Limbu (C) (GK) | Deep Karli (GK) | Bishal Shrestha (GK) | Santosh Tamang, | Dinesh Rajbanshi | Nawayug Shrestha |
| Sunil Bal, | Ananta Tamang | Gautam Shrestha | Suman Aryal | Nitin Thapa | Ayush Ghalan, |
| Aashish Lama, | Pujan Uperkoti, | Suman Lama, | Tej Tamang | Anjan Bista, | Manish Dangi, |
| Kamal Thapa, | Rohit Chand | Suraj Jeu Thakuri | Bishal Rai | Sujal Shrestha |
Find here all about the Nepali Cricket Team – National Cricket Team
Team Officers
| Head coach | Abdullah Almutairi | Team Doctor | Raju Dangol Maharjan |
| Head of Delegates | Purnaman Chitrakar | Physiotherapist | Avishkar Pudasaini |
| Team Manager | MAdhu Sudhan Upadhyaya | GK Coach | Bikash Malla |
| Coach | Kiran Shrestha | Kit Manager | Bikash Gurung |
| Media Officer | Bibek Subedi | Team Coordinator | Krishna Bhakta Manandhar |
SAFF Championship 2021 Schedule
| 01-Oct-21 16:45 Matchday 1 | Sri Lanka | 0:1 | Bangladesh |
| 01-Oct-21 21:45 Matchday 1 | Nepal | 1:0 | Maldives |
| 04-Oct-21 16:45 Matchday 2 | Bangladesh | 1:1 | India |
| 04-Oct-21 21:45 Matchday 2 | Sri Lanka | 2:3 | Nepal |
| 07-Oct-21 16:45 Matchday 3 | India | 0:0 | Sri Lanka |
| 07-Oct-21 21:45 Matchday 3 | Maldives | 2:0 | Bangladesh |
| 10-Oct-21 16:45 Matchday 4 | Maldives | -:- | Sri Lanka |
| 10-Oct-21 21:45 Matchday 4 | Nepal | -:- | India |
| 13-Oct-21 16:45 Matchday 5 | Bangladesh | -:- | Nepal |
| 13-Oct-21 21:45 Matchday 5 | India | -:- | Maldives |
| 16-Oct-21 20:45 Final | TBD | -:- | TBD |
These were all about the Male Nepali Football Team and South Asian Football Federation championship 2021. Now, let’s know the national football female players.
Nepali Female Football National Players
Players
| Anjila Tumbapo Subba | Anjana Rana Magar | Usha Nath | Man Maya Limbu | Dipa Rai | Sabitra Bhandari | Punam Jargha Magar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hira Kumari Bhujel | Gita Rana | Amrita Jaishi | Kabita Dhimal | Renuka Nagarkote | Rekha Paudel | Puja Rana |
| Anita Basnet | Manjali Kumari Yonjon | Saru Limbu | Anita KC | Sharmila Thapa | Niru Thapa (Cap) |
These are the female Nepali Football teams.
In The End
Despite, the lack of infrastructure for football, Nepal football is growing. Infrastructures in Nepal are not enough for ranking up the football in Nepal. However many football stadiums and academies are in the phase of construction. Let us hope these stadiums and academies will help boost football in Nepal.
However, only with these few infrastructures, football-one of the loved games in Nepal can’t progress. If there is support, plan, policies, investment, and better strategies from the government of Nepal to improve Nepal’s football definitely Nepal can top its name in the field of football at a global level.
Thank you for the reading. I hope after reading this article, you got to know all about the Nepali football Team and the SAFF championship. If you find this article, helpful, please like and share this article. Stay safe
Plastic Road for Waste Management in Nepal