ANFA, the apex football body of the nation, proposed to conduct the A Division League from April 15 to May 1, 2011, said an official of a club. All 10 teams of the A Division League that concluded on June 19 this year and eight different clubs promoted to A Division from B division in 2008 will play the upcoming A Division League. [break]
During the disputes between ANFA and Nepal Football Association (NFA), both the associations had conducted separate B division leagues and promoted four teams each to A Division. Both ANFA and NFA had agreed to promote all eight clubs to A Division while settling the disputes in December 2008.
However, the eight clubs have not yet played A Division football. Himalayan Sherpa, Swayambhu, Koilapani Polstar and Bansbari were promoted from the B Division league conducted by ANFA, and United Youth, Brigade Boys, Saraswati Youth Club and Bauddha Football Club were promoted by NFA.
Nepal Police Club, Three Star Club, New Road Team, Nepal Army, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Friends Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Machhindra Club and Armed Police Force are the first division clubs that played the last league that saw Boys Union and Sankata relegated.
The league to be participated by 18 teams will be of only one round. Two teams qualified from districts with A division status will join the top eight teams from the A division league in the National League.
Likewise, ANFA needs to open players´ registration from mid-August (Bhadra). “ANFA has also asked suggestions from clubs before finalizing the players´ regulations. ANFA has given us a sample of players´ regulations. We will study that,” stated Jawalakhel Youth Club General-secretary Manamohan KC, adding, “The regulation will be finalized next month.”
Despite ANFA´s reluctance to open players´ registration, Manang Marshyangdi Club have already enrolled 17 players last week.
ANFA has also proposed to hold three knockout tournaments prior to April 14, 2011 (before the beginning of 2068 BS). Manang Marshyangdi Club in the meeting demanded that a knockout football tournament be conduct before Dashain.
ANFA has also prepared the calendar for mid-April 2012 (Chaitra 2068 BS). “We had discussions regarding the National League, A Division League, knockout tournaments, players´ regulations and other issues with the clubs,” Lalit Krishna Shrestha, the vice president of ANFA said.
The annual calendar will be made public after approval from the board on August 16.
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