Kathmandu, September 10

Kathmandu Metropolitan City today signed the agreement with six ‘A’ division football clubs of the district and handed over kits and cash amidst a programme today.

KMC Director Noor Nidhi Neupane and presidents of six ‘A’ division clubs — Karma Tsering Sherpa (Himalayan Sherpa Club), Kanchha Mukhiya Gurung (Manang Marshyangdi Club), Deepak Harsha Bajracharya (KKM New Road Team), Pramod Bir Singh Kansakar (Machhindra FC), Indra Man Tuladhar (Sankata Club), and Sikshit Parajuli (Saraswati Youth Club) — signed the memorandum of understandings.

As per the five-point MoU, KMC will provide the clubs with cash and kind worth Rs 930,000 to carry out football activities. In return, the clubs will use the logo of KMC in the sports gears. KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya handed over the kits and cheques to the club presidents.

Mayor Shakya said the support was just the beginning and KMC would continue its contribution in sports in the days to come. “We were not sure whether to allocate budget for sports or not this time around as it was not our job. We had put aside a small budget for sports and were not able to support as expected,” said Shakya. “We have started it with a small amount and I am sure it will grow in the days to come. This support is to encourage clubs to do well in the league and we are hopeful that one of these six clubs will be the champion this year,” he added.

All Nepal Football Association President Karma Tsering Sherpa termed the agreement as historic and thanked the KMC for the support. “As far as I know, KMC became the second government in the world to take ownership and invest in football clubs. Maldives has been providing 10 football clubs with $250,000 a year and we are thankful to the KMC for starting it with one million rupees,” said Sherpa.

“I am sure the clubs will take the most out of it as we are coming up with three leagues — National, Martyrs Memorial and ANFA President. Leagues are the pillars of football as we know the national team will not get adequate players if we do not have strong leagues. And we are planning to form nine each men and women national teams in future,” he added.

Speaking on behalf all six clubs, MMC President Kanchha Mukhiya Gurung said the future of players and football was dark in the absence of the league. “We would like to thank the KMC for helping the clubs and we believe such supports will help Nepali sports take a new height,” said Gurung, who was also grateful to ANFA for taking the initiative in bringing in government’s investment in football.