A Farewell with Unspoken Tensions
Kathmandu, Nov. 10 — The senior players of the Nepali national football team, along with their coaching and support staff, were honored at a farewell event organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The event was graced by Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta as the chief guest. However, the atmosphere at the ANFA headquarters in Satdobato, Lalitpur, on Monday afternoon felt different from previous occasions.
The team is set to travel to Bangladesh on Tuesday. They will play a friendly match in Dhaka on November 13 before heading to Malaysia for the second round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on November 18. Despite the significance of the occasion, the farewell function had an unusual tone.
The event ended earlier than usual, as the minister had to leave early for a Cabinet meeting. After delivering a motivational speech urging the players to perform at their best, requesting the ANFA to organize the domestic league cycle, and asking the players to maintain discipline, the minister attempted to leave without returning to his seat. However, after being asked by the ANFA to stay for a while, he eventually returned to his seat to present garlands to the players and staff and hand over the national flag.
Unresolved Issues with the NFPA
Despite the formalities, there were no official clarifications from the ANFA regarding the ongoing tensions between the association and several national team players, as well as the Nepal Football Player Association (NFPA). On Monday, the ANFA had called the NFPA for discussions, but the talks did not take place when the ANFA refused to allow live broadcasting of the meeting. This left many players seeking answers about their concerns.
Several key players, including Rohit Chand, Manish Dangi, Anjan Bista, and Arik Bista, were seen participating in a protest on November 6, demanding the organization of the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League. Ananta Tamang, a crucial defender for the national team, has also been vocal on social media about the need for a continuous domestic league. He is currently traveling with the team.
Divergent Opinions Among Players
The national team has faced challenges both on and off the field. Since the start of 2025, the Gorkhalis have lost all four fixtures in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, drawn two matches in friendlies against Hong Kong and Bangladesh, and managed only one win against Singapore.
Matt Ross, the Australian coach appointed in March, resigned four months into his tenure, leading the ANFA to appoint Technical Director Hari Khadka as an interim. During a pre-tournament conference before the friendlies against Bangladesh, Ross and captain Kiran Chemjong emphasized the importance of the domestic league as a foundation for the national team.
Chemjong, however, later expressed concerns about players taking to the streets to voice their grievances. “The NFPA is leading the protest. It is their responsibility to solve the issue,” he said. “National players on the streets do not seem right, but they are doing it for themselves.”
Voices from the Field
Aditya Shakya and Ananta Tamang also shared their perspectives during a Q&A session with journalists. Shakya highlighted the lack of a consistent domestic league, stating that even his father and uncle did not see regular competitions. He questioned how the youth could be inspired if national players had to leave the country for better opportunities.
Tamang, who played in the domestic league for only four seasons in his 10-year career, expressed frustration over the absence of a proper platform. “What about the hundreds of other players who have not earned anything for being a footballer?” he asked.
Focused on the Future
Despite these challenges, the players remain committed to representing the country. “We are positive of defeating Bangladesh before heading to Malaysia for a similar result,” Shakya said. The team has started training and will head to Bangladesh soon.
Tamang acknowledged the impact of the lack of regular competitions on their stamina and touch. “But we are heading to Bangladesh and Malaysia with a positive mindset, with the same aim: to win,” he added.
Chemjong emphasized the players’ determination despite the recent changes in coaching staff. “We want to win, to give a positive result for all, especially the fans,” he said. “The friendly will be a good test of our abilities before we head out for the Asian Qualifiers.”