Kathmandu, February 10

Former Vice-president of All Nepal Football Association Karma Tshiring Sherpa announced his candidacy for the post of ANFA President for the electoral general assembly slated for May 28.

Sherpa, who lost to ANFA President Narendra Shrestha in 2016, was proposed by former CEO Indra Man Tuladhar and seconded by Honorary President Tashi Ghale and Vice-presidents Bir Bahadur Khadka and Kishor Rai among others.

Sherpa said that his candidacy was to reform country’s football governing body. “We were  divided in the past election and faced defeat. But we have come together this time around and we believe change is possible in ANFA,” said Sherpa, who is also the President of Himalayan Sherpa Club. “We can create favourable environment for the players, coaches, referees and officials with the help of district associations along with A, B and C division clubs,” said Sherpa.

Sherpa also claimed that his committee was committed to bring drastic changes in the ANFA within in three months. “We need to bring changes in the system of ANFA. The executive committee along with district associations and other committees will get their share in the decision making process,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, former ANFA Vice-president Bir Bahadur Khadka, who admitted that he was one of the officials responsible for the wrong doings in ANFA, showed his solidarity to Sherpa. “I am not happy to change the camp but I am here to support Sherpa as ANFA needs to be run under the system and rules and regulations,” he said.

Likewise, ANFA Honorary President Ghale said he made a mistake by supporting Shrestha in the previous elections. “The ANFA is not run by the president or executive committee. It is under the grip of certain staff and they are more powerful than the president,” he said. “I request you all to be responsible while voting,” said Ghale.

Former ANFA CEO Tuladhar said no one was happy with the current executive committee. “I became a part of ANFA with the hope of doing something for the betterment of the sport. But I always felt that a dangerous and strong invisible force did not allow us to work freely,” he said. “We have come together to bring professionalism in Nepali football and that is possible with the teamwork,” said Tuladhar.

Similarly, former technical director and coach Krishna Thapa, who withdrew his candidacy to support Sherpa, said ANFA was ran under dictatorship in past and a drastic change was necessary for the development of football.

Vice-president Kishor Rai sent a note in support of Sherpa, while ANFA Members Ratna Shrestha and Pankaj Bikram Nembang, former AIG Bigyan Raj Sharma, former national team skippers Upendra Man Singh and Bal Gopal Maharjan, Friends Club President Rajiv Paudel, deputy CEOs Rajendra Neupane and Diwakar Ghale, and Jhapa FA President Bhagirath Ale among others were also present on the occasion.