Kathmandu, November 3:

The departmental teams Mahendra Police Club (MPC) and Armed Police Force (APF) Team registered easy wins in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League football tournament here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

The Policemen struggled in the beginning before coming back strongly for a 5-2 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) while APF started their campaign with a 4-1 win over Boys’ Union Club (BUC).

Ananta Thapa struck twice while skipper Hari Khadka, Ramesh Budhathoki and Jumanu Rai scored one each for MPC. Ishwar Shrestha and Doran Serchan scored for JYC.

For APF, Santosh Sahu-khala scored two goals and Mani Pandit and Prakash Karki got one each, whereas Dipendra Pariyar scored the consolation goal for BUC.

Ishwar Shrestha put JYC ahead in the third minute MPC goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa fumbled his powerful strike from 25 yards. Ramesh Budhathoki levelled the scores seven minutes later when he beat a defender before firing home from eight yards.

Ananta Thapa gave the MPC lead in the 29th minute following a cross from Ramesh, while Hari Khadka added another 11 minutes later through a 20-yard free kick, which they earned the free kick after a JYC defender brought down Ganesh Budhathoki.

Doran Serchan pulled one back for JYC in the 59th minute through a volley over advancing MPC goalie Ritesh, but Jumanu Rai restored the Policemen’s two-goal lead with a solo goal in the 75th minute.

Ananta Thapa scored his second and fifth for his team when he headed home on Bhola Silwal’s corner in the 86th minute. Despite the win, MPC assistant coach Anil Adhikari was not fully satisfied. “These three points are important, but the team was below par today,” he said. In contrast, MPC skipper Hari Khadka was more than happy with the win. “I am happy with the win as our first-match record in previous years are not good,” said Khadka.

In the second match, APF — under new captain Kumar Thapa, who joined the departmental team after winning the league title with MMC last year — started well scoring three goals in three minutes against BUC. Sahukhala, another new signing from Nabil Three Star, put APF ahead in the 22nd minute on following his skipper’s cross inside the six-yard box.

Sahukhala doubled the lead two minutes later with a spectacular goal from 20 yards after dodging two defenders, while Prakash Karki added another in the 25th minute on former skipper Jibesh Pandey’s pass.

Mani Pandit joined the party when he beat a couple of defenders before firing a powerful shot past BUC goalkeeper Deepak Dangol from 18 yards. The APF team — under new coach Dhurba KC — then lost control over the match. Dipendra Pariyar pulled one back for BUC in the injury time with a 20-yard shot.

APF coach Dhurba KC said that his team lacked the midfield-forward coordination during the match. “We were playing against a lowly team and our midfielders were making miss-passes,” said KC.

ANFA to bar foreign-based players

KATHMANDU: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Friday decided to bar the foreign-based players who do not possess working visa from taking part in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League.

“The ANFA meeting today decided not to allow foreign players who do not have work permit in the league,” said Sanjeev Mishra, member of the press and publicity sub committee of the league. “The meeting also decided not to accept the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) received through e-mail, but accept the faxed-ITC,” he added. “But the related clubs should produce the original copy of the ITC within 15 days,” he said.

ANFA called the 14 ‘A’ division clubs after Nabil Three Star filed a protest against Machhindra FC for fielding three Nigerian players without producing work permit. — HNS