Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – The second edition of the Nepal Super League concluded with Lalitpur City FC emerging victorious over Dhangadhi FC in the final. The tournament surpassed expectations set by the inaugural edition and boasted an impressive crowd turnout and featured high-profile foreign acquisitions.
Now, more than a week after the end of the grand spectacle, HamroKhelkud has meticulously selected the best XI of the second edition, following a thorough thought process. The team set-up is within the limit of five foreign players in the starting XI.
Here’s how the team shapes up:
Goalkeeper:
Stepan Cupic (Jhapa FC)
Jhapa FC’s Serbian goalkeeper, Stefan Cupic, delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament. Despite Jhapa FC bowing out before the playoffs, Cupic emerged as the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets, boasting five shutouts in eight appearances. Remarkably, for a team that fell short of the playoffs, Cupic found himself retrieving the ball from his net only on four occasions. It becomes evident that Jhapa’s defensive line wasn’t the Achilles’ heel; rather, it was their offensive efforts that fell short. Cupic undoubtedly played a pivotal role in supporting this claim.
Defenders:
Sanish Shrestha (Lalitpur City FC)
Nepal international Sanish Shrestha secures the right-back position in our team of the tournament. Lalitpur faced a challenge when Sanish had to exit the field in the 19th minute during their second match and was also absent in their third encounter against Dhangadhi FC. However, Sanish played every other minute for Lalitpur despite the injury setback. Notably, he not only contributed defensively but also made impactful runs down the right flank to bolster the team’s offensive endeavors. Despite Lalitpur only managing three clean sheets in the nine full 90-minute matches he participated in, Sanish’s consistent and impactful performances rightfully earn him a spot on the right side of our defensive lineup.
Devendra Tamang (Dhangadhi FC)
Devendra Tamang, the defensive linchpin for Dhangadhi FC, emerged as one of the five players who played every minute of their team’s campaign. One of the best defenders in the Nepali domestic circuit, Devendra’s defensive contributions and aggressive presence is well-known. Despite playing a total of 930 minutes throughout the campaign, Devendra had no yellow cards and even slotted in with a goal against Pokhara Thunders in the first qualifier.
Ananta Tamang (Lalitpur City FC)
Ananta Tamang, a stalwart in the Nepal National Team and the marquee skipper for Lalitpur City FC, clinched his second title of the year, following the A Division League triumph with Church Boys United earlier in the year. Despite facing setbacks midway through his campaign, Ananta displayed remarkable resilience to return to his usual form, leading his team through every minute en route to securing the title. Lalitpur, under his defensive guidance, achieved five clean sheets throughout the tournament, a performance that also earned him the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament.
Sanjeet Rai (Lalitpur City FC)
Alongside his skipper Ananta, Lalitpur’s left-back Sanjeet Rai also played every single minute of their title-winning campaign. For many, Sanjeet was the surprise of the tournament. He was a lesser-known figure in a star-studded Lalitpur squad but his performances were stellar. He was resilient and tough to get dribbled past on the left side of Lalitpur’s defense. Lalitpur head coach Ian Andrew Gillan was full of praises for the 23-year-old as his presence guided Lalitpur to five clean sheets and earns him a place in the tournament’s best XI.
Midfielders:
Sesehang Angdembe (Lalitpur City FC)
Lalitpur’s midfield maestro, Army personnel Sesehang Angdembe, showcased an outstanding performance throughout the tournament. Whether partnering with Bibek Poudel or holding the midfield without him post-injury, Sesehang adeptly adapted to different roles over the entire campaign. His confidence was visibly boosted by his National Team call-up, ending a one-year hiatus just before the tournament commenced. This newfound assurance translated into impressive on-field displays. Sesehang, a mainstay who played every minute except for a brief 13-minute absence, is gradually realizing his potential once again, earning him a well-deserved spot in this XI’s midfield.
Joe Aidoo (Pokhara Thunders)
Building on his stellar A Division League performance with Nepal Police Club earlier in the year, Joe Aidoo seamlessly continued his impactful contributions during Pokhara’s journey to the playoffs in the NSL. Beyond his tally of one goal and two assists in the campaign, Joe’s significance went beyond mere numbers; he served as the linchpin holding Pokhara’s midfield together. His influence was evident as he featured in every single minute until Pokhara bowed out in the second qualifier and played a crucial role in the team’s midfield dynamics.
Santosh Khatri (Sporting Ilam FC)
19-year-old midfielder Santosh Khatri was the biggest ray of sunshine in an otherwise dismal campaign for the newcomers Sporting Ilam de Mechi FC. Santosh, who started seven out of Ilam’s eight outings, had a strong foothold in midfield on every occasion. Although lacking distribution-wise, his real display of his ability to disrupt opposition play and win back possession for his side was very evident throughout the campaign.
Forwards:
Ahmad Hijazi (Dhangadhi FC)
The Lebanese forward, Hijazi, arrived late into the Dhangadhi camp ahead of NSL 2. Hijazi started every other match for Dhangadhi except for the opening one and netted three goals and made an assist. Besides his goals, he was a constant presence in the attacking third for Dhangadhi with his brutal pace that gave him real strength to make runs behind defenses. His strong suit, meanwhile, has been his finishing. His late winner against Birgunj in the first match and the 120th-minute equalizer against Pokhara in the first qualifier were his most memorable contributions throughout the campaign.
Moses Gyabaah Twum (Pokhara Thunders)
Moses Twum was the focal point of Pokhara Thunders’ attack. He scored five times in the tournament as Pokhara were eliminated in the second qualifier. Beyond his goal-scoring abilities, he consistently posed a threat to opposing defenses, actively involving and bringing other teammates into the game. Twum’s multifaceted contributions were instrumental in shaping Pokhara Thunders’ attacking presence throughout the competition.
Imoh Ezekiel (Lalitpur City FC)
Little needs to be said about Lalitpur’s Nigerian forward, Imoh Ezekiel. Undoubtedly the most high-profile signing of the tournament, given his previous experience in various teams and leagues, Imoh made a significant impact by scoring six goals and clinching the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. Notably, two of his goals proved pivotal in the final against Dhangadhi FC. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, Imoh consistently posed a threat on the wings, with a combination of pace, strength, and dribbling ability.
