Lalitpur, September 23 Acting president of All Nepal Football Association Narendra Lal Shrestha today announced his candidacy for the post of ANFA president. Shrestha has been at the helm of the football governing body since last nine months after President Ganesh Thapa was banned for 10 years and the then acting president Lalit Krishna Shrestha passed away due to electrocution. The ANFA is holding the general assembly on October 24 to elect the president and one vice-president, which is vacant following the death of Lalit Krishna Shrestha in March last year. Thapa was banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee for 10 years after he was found to be involved in corruption and other charges related to disciplines. After filing the nomination papers with the backing of 18 district FAs, 10 clubs and three committees, Narendra Shrestha said it was his right to lead the ANFA for the remaining period of the four-year term that will expire next year. “Everybody is well aware about my contribution in Nepali football and I think I should get the chance to lead the ANFA for another one year,” said Shrestha, who was Competition Director before being nominated as the vice-president by the Thapa-led committee. “I was doing my duty although I was not in the executive committee. Lalit Krishna Shrestha was junior to me but we had accepted him as a leader. The tragic death of Shrestha brought me into the committee and I got the responsibility of acting president after Thapa was banned,” he said. “We did what we could do in the last nine months and I deserve to continue at the post for the remaining term,” he added. Deputy General Secretary Mani Kunwar announced his candidacy for the post of vice-president. “It’s been 20 years I have served football with different capacities,” said Kunwar. “And I am committed to work for the development of the sport in the days to come as well.” Kunwar also asked the rival group to remain away from politics for the ANFA elections. Sindhupalchowk FA President Bir Bahadur Khadka challenged the rival group led by vice-president Karma Tshiring Sherpa to prove the accusations of misdeed while selecting representatives. “I have spent 20 years in football and I am proud to a part of this team,” he said. “There was no political influence in football in past but a group, which has claimed itself as the messiah of bringing so-called change in Nepali football have tried to bring division through dirty politics.” New Road Team President Deepak Harsha Bajracharya, Rautahat FA President Nepal Karki and Pulchowk Youth Club Secretary Babu Krishna Maharjan also appealed the football fraternity to support Shrestha and Kunwar in the elections. Vice-president Sherpa, who led the movement against Thapa for around two years to unseat him with accusations of irregularities and corruption, is another probable candidate for the post of president, while former national team skipper Upendra Man Singh has filed candidacy for the post of vice-president. Ghale pulls out of race KATHMANDU: Founder president of Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club on Friday withdrew his name from the All Nepal Football Association presidency election race. Ghale, who served as vice-president of the ANFA two decades ago, had announced his candidacy on August 29. Ghale said he would contest in the ANFA elections only after a certain system was established in the football governing body. “We need to amend the ANFA statute massively to incorporate all the stakeholders in the frame,” said Ghale. “Now that I’m not in race for the president’s post, I appeal district FAs, clubs and other representatives of the general assembly to back me in our bid to clean up the ANFA. I was surprised to know that the ANFA does not have financial regulations. I will raise my voice for statute amendment and formation of financial regulations so that no one can do irregularities in future. I’m confident that I will get 100 per cent support in this campaign,” he added. Ghale’s withdrawal meant the ANFA president’s elections is likely to be a two-way battle between current acting president Narendra Lal Shrestha and vice-president Karma Tshiring Sherpa. Nepal Police AIG Bigyan Raj Sharma is also keen to take part in elections and has announced his candidacy but he is yet to collect the nomination form from the election committee. The deadline for filing the nomination is on Sunday.