KATHMANDU, JANUARY 13
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is set to launch the National League Football Tournament on Wednesday, marking the return of top-tier domestic football after a three-year absence of the A Division League.
At a pre-match press conference held at the ANFA Complex this afternoon, captains and coaches from 15 clubs briefed the media on their preparations. Nav Janajagriti Youth Club and Kankrevihar Youth Club, however, were notably absent.
A total of 17 clubs-13 from the A Division and four from the President's League-are slated to participate in the competition.
During the briefing, many club officials admitted that their preparations were far from ideal, citing the short notice provided by the organizing body.
With the exception of the three departmental teams, most clubs nevertheless welcomed the decision to revive the league, viewing it as an important step toward re-energizing players, engaging fans, and restoring a competitive football environment after a prolonged hiatus. Several clubs also indicated that they would be fielding younger players alongside experienced squad members.
A majority of teams have had less than a week of training before the league's kickoff.
Due to the hastily finalized schedule, some clubs have not even been able to complete their squad formation in time, raising concerns about the overall competitiveness and preparedness of the participating teams.
The league will officially open with a match between Kankrevihar Club and Friends Club at the ANFA Complex.
