KATHMANDU, Sept 20: Departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club is set to take on New Road Team (NRT) on the opening day of the Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League to be organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on September 29. The match will be played at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur.
In the league draw organized by the ANFA on Wednesday, it was decided that the league will kick off with Army taking on NRT on the opening day.
In the draw, NRT was in the first number, while Army was in the fourteenth. There will be only one league match on the opening day of the tournament.
In the league which will end on January 1, Brigade Boys’ Club will play against Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) on the second day at the ANFA Complex, while Machhindra Club will face Chyasal Youth Club at the Armed Police Force’s Halchwok Stadium at Halchowk, Kathmandu, on the same day.
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On the third day, October 1, Friends Club will battle against Ruslan Three Star Club (TSC) at the ANFA Complex, while Jawalakhel Youth Club will lock horns against the other departmental team Nepal Police Club at Halchowk.
Likewise, on October 2, Himalayan Sherpa Club will take on the third departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) at the ANFA Complex, while Saraswati Youth Club will face CMG Sankata Club at Halchowk on the same day.
After that match, the first round of the league will end, and the second round will start from October 5, according to the unveiled match schedule.
However, league director Sanjeev Mishra informed that the match schedule can have some changes as Nepal national football team might take part in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
“Nepal will take part in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup if it receives the remaining winning prize money of the earlier edition,” Mishra said. “If Nepal takes part in the tournament, the opening game of the league will be played, but the other games will be played on reserve day. The organizing committee will move forward in this regard.”
However, an official of a club accused the organizers of ignoring the effect it will have on the clubs if Nepal took part in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, general secretary of MMC Mukhya Lama said that he was excited with the organizing of the A-Division League after a long time.
“Manang was always in the favor of organizing of the league. We are happy that the league is starting again. But, we are in confusion whether the league will start or not on the stipulated date with the participation of Nepal in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup,” Lama added.
A total of 14 teams are taking part in the tournament, which is going to be held after a halt of five years.
