The National League held for the first time in Nepal was successful enough in sending out positive messages but it was also marred by poor management.[break]
The best aspect of the mega event held outside the capital was that it was successful in sending out the message that any other district with proper infrastructure can host the biggest domestic football event.
However, as expected, poor management and lack of adequate preparation made the event charmless. The ground was not upkept properly while the organizers also failed to attract crowd for the mega event.
Police on verge of making history
Martyrs Memorial League champion Nepal Police Club has continued its supremacy, winning all the five matches played so far. After winning three consecutive titles of the Martyrs Memorial League, Police has strengthened its hopes of winning the first ever title of the National League.
Unlike Police, star studded MMC -- touted as one of the title contenders -- failed to play up to the expectations and has lost two of its four matches. MMC is now in the fifth position with six points and Police is on top with 15 points, five ahead of second placed Himalayan Sherpa.
"Now the title is almost ours but we are still not safe," Police coach Birat Krishan Shrestha said after his team´s fifth victory in a row. The title race has become less competitive now than it was expected previously.
Poor ground conditions
The ground of Pokhara stadium was heavily criticized by coaches of all the teams. The grass had dried and some of the parts were without grass and uneven. The organizers had chosen Pokhara and Butwal as the host cities not more than two weeks before the kick off and the ground was not maintained properly.
Pokhara Stadium´s ground had remained busy since mid-October and had hosted five different sports events in two and half months before the League kicked off. District Sports Festival was conducted on the stadium premises from October 18-22, Safal Pokhara Cup from November 8- November 19, President Cup Running Shield from December 6-10, IGP Cup from December 13-23 and Wai Wai Women´s Volleyball from December 20-24.
Coaches and players complained that bouncing and rolling of the ball and controlling the ball were misbalanced by the unfavourable ground conditions, preventing the players from showing their full potential on the pitch.
Challenge to capital-based teams
Though Pokhara-based Sangam FC could not match the standard of A division clubs of the capital, PLO Mitramilan Club of Dharan proved that it was not only the clubs of Kathmandu that were capable of competing in top flight.
Mitramilan, yet to register a win, threw a tough challenge to all the teams, including the leader Police. It was defeated 1-0 by Police and played a goalless draw against New Road Team (NRT). The result and performance was the proof that the clubs with football culture from outside the capital only need opportunity to prove their worth.
Controversial referee decision
As on the previous occasions, the referees were heavily criticized by coaches. After seeing his three players get marching orders, NRT coach Raju Shakya said that the referee could have taken the ugly situation under control had he made a quick reaction before the brawl started between NRT and Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC).
Similarly, Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) coach Madhu Karki, who rarely comments on referees, said that the referees favor big teams with stars and national players. He said the referees treat all players equally. NRT coach Yogambar Suwal even questioned the referees´ eligibility. These are only some of the instances about referee´s criticism. Every team had questioned the referees´ performance during the League.
Late action
Soon after MMC´s 2-1 defeat against Himalayn Sherpa on January 5, MMC had registered a complaint at ANFA claiming that Sherpa player Kunjan Gurung was registered with a sixth tire club of England. ANFA should have immediately inquired about him and took a decision but nothing has been done till now.
Ground arrangements for training
Other than the two departmental teams and a home team, Sangam FC, all the teams complained of training ground. Though the League´s Pokhara coordinator Narendra Shrestha claimed to have arranged four grounds for seven teams, all the teams underwent training at the Army´s ground, Lakeside, Pokhara.
Coaches said they could not afford the transportation fare as the training grounds were far from their hotel. According to the coaches, they could not train freely as three teams had to train together and did not wish to show their techniques to other teams.
Low spectator turnout and gate money
The revenue from spectators is of utmost importance for commercial success of football. But the presence of spectators at parapet was much too low than expected by the organizers. “Overall, the tournament was a success, but we failed to collect the expected revenue,” League coordinator Narendra Shrestha said.
Not a single day was the parapet, with 5000 audience capacity, full. Besides this, the clubs also lamented that they could have got the gate money had the tournament been held in the capital but they did not get a single penny, other than preparation fees, in Pokhara.
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