LETTERS: Future of Nepali football

It is a matter of exhilaration that Nepalis love football though the government’s apathy towards it has always embittered us.

There was a time when Nepal was acclaimed as the “powerhouse of South Asian football”. We need to admit that Nepal has lost its appeal in international football due to poor internal management with regard to infrastructural development of the sports.

It is not that Nepal lacks quality soccer players. What we really lack at the moment is good governance, transparency and efficacious strategic plans so that sports can foster and showcase some footballing magic in international games.

For this to happen, the government needs to invest in competitive sports, be it building international stadiums at several places or providing necessary incentives and training to the Nepali players who are talented enough to shake the football world. All they desperately need at the moment is a proficient football coach or mentor.

And I don’t think that the government is doing the needful to come up with a strategic plan to address such issues. What is really frustrating to note is that the country’s sole international football stadium, Dashrath Rangashala, has yet to be reconstructed even though it has been over two years since the massive earthquake partly damaged it.

How can the government be so complacent regarding development of the sports sector and always drag such a politically cursed country towards confrontation, political deadlock, stalemate, bickering and imbroglio? I just wonder whether Nepali football fans will get a chance to witness a miraculous performance of the Nepali national football team in the near future?

Sanjog Karki, Tansen

Protect forests

The wildfire in central Portugal has killed over 62 people, sending shock waves across the world. There are many reasons behind this incident.

First, any educated person can easily understand that the forests are always playing greater roles in influencing the chances of getting rain. This apart, the forest areas have the natural appeal of “clustering the clouds together.” And all these activities will lead to good rainfall over the region.

On the contrary, a forest area catching fire means something serious. The fact is that the factors like climate change and dry weather and immense exposure to sunlight will add to the chances of wildfire.

Personally, I have on many occasions come across reports of fire incidents in dense forest areas in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, India. Besides this, deforestation is another strong factor behind the wildfire incidents.

The short message is that it is time to protect our prestigious and precious forest areas. Otherwise, the serious consequences will be on the cards. To tackle such incidents, serious steps and greater efforts are required towards safeguarding the forest areas.

Acts like controlling urbanization and increasing forest cover will bring in greater results in matters of balancing the environment against the growing population and urbanization.

  1. Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai