By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Four top-flight clubs of Nepal have urged the football government body of Nepal to hold discussions on their issues raised by them during the upcoming meeting of the All Nepal Football Association on Tuesday.
Issuing a joint statement on Sunday, the four clubs of the Martyrs Memorial A Division League made such appeal to ANFA. The four clubs including New Road Team (NRT), Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Three Star Club and Sankata Football Club unveiled the joint statement amid a press conference on Sunday. They made such appeal to resolve the problems that are likely to surface due to the upcoming Nepal Super League (NSL).
The clubs were of the view that the NSL is being held at a time when the players are still under contract with the clubs. General Secretary of Three Star Club Sanjeev Shilpakar said that the ANFA is the supreme body to govern the country’s football and it should take the initiative to resolve the problems.
“We are not against football but we believe that discussion is the best way to resolve problems,” said Shilpakar.
Earlier, eight clubs including league champions Machhindra FC, had issued a joint statement on February 27 urging the ANFA to make necessary coordination for NSL as the prospect of the franchise-based tournament would mean players would have dual contracts. The clubs had urged ANFA President Karma Chiring Sherpa to stop the auction of NSL and hold discussions. Although ANFA had said it would write a letter to NSL to stop the auction, the NSL unilaterally held the auction drawing the ire of the top-flight clubs.
The clubs have warned that they will likely take legal action if their demands are not addressed. “We want a resolution through talks. But if our demands go unheeded, we will not have any option that to seek legal remedy,” said Shilpakar.
The four clubs said that they plan their next move after further discussion if ANFA does not include this topic during Tuesday’s meeting. Officials of three of the four clubs are also ANFA office bearers. Sankata’s President Indra Man Tuladhar is the General Secretary of ANFA while Three Star’s President Arun Man Joshi is Deputy General Secretary of ANFA. Likewise, MMC’s member Bijay Ghale is also an executive member of ANFA.
