Nepali Football: Decline and Departures

Nepal marked a significant moment in its sporting narrative back on October 13, 1972. It was on this day that the Himalayan nation stepped onto the international football stage for the very first time, facing off against China in Beijing. Despite a valiant effort that saw Nepal notch up two goals, it was China who emerged victorious with a scoreline of six goals. This inaugural match not only marked Nepal’s debut on the international football scene but also laid the groundwork for future endeavors in the sport. Among the notable moments in Nepali football history is the achievement of YB Ghale, who etched his name in the annals of the sport as the first Nepali footballer to score an international goal. This feat was accomplished during the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, India, where Ghale found the back of the net against Kuwait.

Delving deeper into the roots of football in Nepal unveils a rich history intertwined with the country’s socio-political landscape. The Rana Regime era serves as the backdrop for the genesis of domestic football, with the inception of the Tribhuvan Challenge Shield in 1948 standing as a testament to the sport’s early development. This tournament, one of the oldest in the nation, paved the way for the establishment of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) in 1951, serving as the governing body for football activities across the country.

Currently, Nepali football finds itself at a crucial juncture, facing a do-or-die situation.

Footballers going abroad

It is enough to understand how critical the situation of Nepali football is by observing footballers going abroad. Four young footballers flew to Australia on February 6th. Aashish Chaudhary, Sesehang Angdembe, Simanta, and Anish Deula migrated to Australia in search of a brighter future. Simanta, Sesehang, and Ashish last played international matches for the Nepali team. All three young footballers were seen as the future of Nepali football. Similarly, goalkeeper Anish is a player who has been in the closed training of the national team after showing excellent performance in the domestic league. As the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is not able to organize enough tournaments and the announced tournaments are not conducted on time, footballers are choosing to go abroad, abandoning the dark future of Nepali football. About 100 football players from Nepal have reached Australia in the last two years. More than two dozen players have played for the national team. Following the departure of four players to Australia, the captain of the Nepali team, Kiran Kumar Limbu, expressed his sadness over the loss of four talented players from Nepal.