United crowned League champions; Nepal APF, FC Khumaltar relegated
KATHMANDU, JUNE 10
Skipper Bikram Lama converted from the spot as Three Star Club avoided relegation with a 1-0 victory over Jawalakhel Youth Club in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Three Star needed a win in the last match of league to stay in the top flight and Lama earned a penalty after he was tripped by Pramin Shrestha inside the box in 71st minute. Skipper Lama converted from the spot to score his football career's last goal that helped Three Star avoid the relegation.
The win sent Nepal APF Football Club to relegation and the departmental team joined FC Khumaltar in the bottom two after 18 years in top flight. Khumaltar were already relegated as they could not survive in their first season. Three Star jumped four places up to ninth with 32 points.
In other matches, twotime defending champions Machhindra Football Club hammered Manang Marshyangdi Club 3-1, while Sankata Club and New Road Team played a 1-1 draw. Newcomers Church Boys United finished at the top of the table with 48 points from 26 matches, while Machhindra finished second with 45. Nepal Police Club were third on 41 points. Top three clubs received Rs 7.5 million, Rs 5 million and Rs 2.5 million respectively.
Jawalakhel Youth Club finished fourth on 37 points, while Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club were fifth on 35.
Sixth-placed NRT and seventh-placed Tribhuvan Army FC accumulated 34 points each, while MMC (32) finished eighth ahead of Three Star after being tied on 32 points. Sankata, who also accumulated 32 points were 10th, ahead of Himalayan Sherpa (31) and Friends Club (30) in the 14-team table.
APF were tied on 30 points with Friends but they finished behind at 13th place on head-to-head results, while Khumaltar finished the campaign at the bottom after they earned 27 points from 26 matches.
Church Boys United skipper Ananta Tamang was declared the most valuable player of the tournament and he received Rs 300,000.
Laken Limbu of Three Star was named the emerging player and he earned Rs 150,000. Yves Priso of Church Boys United was adjudged the best goalkeeper, while Afeez Olawale Oladipo of Machhindra was the highest scorer with 26 goals.
They pocketed Rs 200,000 each. Nepal Police Club won the Fair Play award along with Rs 300,000.
Three Star Club skipper Lama retired from football after match and he received guard of honour from his teammates after Minister for Youth and Sports Dig Bahadur Limbu presented him the blazer on behalf of his club. Three Star players also offered guard of honour to NPC duo Jumanu Rai and Bholanah Silwal, who retired from football yesterday.
Deepak Gurung of Tribhuvan Army FC also hung his boots after the league.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
