Thapa, also the technical director of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and former coach of Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), will take charge of the departmental team for the first time in the Safal Pokhara Cup to be held in his hometown Pokhara from October 22 to November 2. APF will play against Pokhara XI of host Kaski in its first match of the tournament on October 22.[break]
"Thapa has joined APF until the end of this football season," APF DSP Madhav Regmi, who is also the head of APF Sports Section, confirmed to Republica on Monday. According to Regmi, Thapa had started training the departmental team from late-July.
Thapa, however, was not available for comments.
APF is the second professional team to hire the 58-year-old as its coach. Earlier, Thapa had taken charge of MMC for about seven months and guided the team to the titles of Ncell Cup and Safal Pokhara Cup. Under Thapa, MMC played a total of 25 matches, including the A division league and three other tournaments. Of them, MMC won 15, lost four and drew six matches.
Thapa´s brief stint at MMC, from July 6, 2012 to January 31 2013, ended on a bitter note as the title favorite finished fifth in the first round of the Martyrs Memorial League. Also, MMC crashed out in its first match of the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup in Pokhara, which prompted Thapa´s resignation.
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