Golda Meir, ex-PM of Israel and iron lady of Israeli politics, once said “whether women are better than men I cannot say, but I can say they are certainly no worse.” This quote has held true in contemporary Nepali women’s football scenario. Just when the country is gearing itself up for the upcoming SAFF championship, Nepali women are busy playing their tricks and techniques in the army ground at Bhadrakali, Army Headquarters. And this has not gone unnoticed.
Nepal Army, apart from its glorious history as a professional army, has also been a major stakeholder in Nepali sports arena. It has been providing a favorable playground for countless athletes who have gone on to become champions. And when the women of Nepali football join hands with Nepal Army, the results are bound to be wonderful! [break]
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Nepali Army is organizing the 1st Pradhan Senapati women’s football tournament, 2070 (Shrawan 14-18) at the Army HQ. It is quite unfortunate that this tournament is only the third of its kind to have been organized in Nepal, after Women’s League 2069 and NCELL cup. In the same period, there have been many such opportunities for their male counterparts. There is a distinct lack of opportunities for Nepali women to shine on a football pitch. Hence, the Army has, in a praiseworthy initiative, decided to take on the challenge. Female footballers will undoubtedly cash in on this opportunity.
It may be a bit childish to compare male and female football teams categorically, but if we look at the results of recent SAFF championships, the women’s team has given us more pride and joy. Nepali female footballers actually finished runners up on both 1st and 2nd SAFF women’s championship to India. SAFF games are generally considered the benchmark of not only football, but other sports as well. Truth hurts, but history says that Nepal has not reached the finals of any football game in the SAFF championship (male) since its commencement in 1983.
The results of football games in South Asian Games are not worth mentioning here because of SAG’s provision of allowing only three players above the age of 23 in a team. However, we cannot undermine the fierce competition in the male games in SAFF tournaments, because every nation is equally capable of achieving success. At the same time, the results achieved by Nepali women in SAFF are significant, and by no means can be taken for granted. They have only India to overcome, as they have hammered goal after goal at other SAFF countries.
Interestingly, the ladies also thrashed Kuwait 8-0 at Kuwait’s home ground in the first of two friendly matches held last January. Unfortunately, the Kuwait Football Association canceled the second amidst injury concerns. That was a clear indication that Gorkhali women can achieve magnificent results if they are trained for it and are provided with the right environment and facilities. NA is doing just that by providing a platform for Nepali women to not only up their game, but also a chance to be the goodwill ambassadors of this great nation in international arenas. We can safely assume that the women’s team has a greater chance of achieving success compared to that of men’s football team.
During an informal conversation with Yogambar Suwal, coach of Tribhuwan Army football club, and Bikash Malla, captain of the same, I sensed immense excitement in their words as they spoke about the importance of the 1st Pradhan Senapati women’s football tourney while they were busy coaching the army’s women’s football team at the Lagankhel barrack.
Suwal, ex-coach of the national football team coach, has been observing the development of the ladies’ football in Nepal for long. He remembered the mid 1980s when Rama Singh was the first captain of Nepali women’s football team. According to him, there were very few tournaments for women at the time, and most Nepalis neither knew about women’s football teams, nor bothered to follow them. But lately, there is buzz in the media and a growing feeling in the public that Nepali women can deliver something special in the football pitch.
A true sense of football optimism is in the crowd after the recent success of our young lads in the 2nd SAFF U-16 tournament held in the capital. Besides, the 10th SAFF Championship, to be held in Kathmandu, is just round the corner. Football fever is here to stay. Therefore, this is just the right time for our women to jump on the bandwagon.
Altogether eight teams, three from different departments and five from the five development regions, will be competing in the five-day tourney. Historically, the departmental teams have fared better than regional ones. No matter which team becomes the champion of the first Pradhan senapati football tournamnet, ultimately Nepali women’s football will be the winner. It is Nepali women’s football that will benefit the most. Nepali women’s football as a whole will surely capitalize on this and embark on a successful journey ahead as I believe future holds only the best for our female footballers.
The author is a captain of Nepal Army
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