LALITPUR: All Nepal Football Assiciation (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa today officially announced the candidacy for the post of president for the fourth term.

At a press meet, Thapa claimed of having the support of 71 out of the 72 voting members — 40 District FAs, 20 ‘A’ division clubs, five ‘B’ division clubs, three ‘C’ division clubs, players association, coaches associations, referees association and women’s committee — for the September 7 elections. “Only one club is against me and I will try my best to take that club into confidence before the elections,” said Thapa. Bouddha Football Club is supporting Thapa’s only opponent so far, Gita Rana, in the elections. The deadline to file the nomination is until August 8.

“I have been elected unopposed in the past years but this time it is awesome as all the football loving clubs and districts have come forward in my support in such a way,” said Thapa. RCT President Bijay Narayan Manandhar proposed Thapa’s name for the post of the president and vice president of ANFA Karma Chhiring Sherpa supported his proposal. If one is to believe Thapa’s statements, Gita Rana won’t be able to even file her candidacy as it needs 10 General Assembly members — five to propose and five to support the nomination — for the same.

The representaives of district FAs, clubs and associations said the development of football was impossible in the absence of Thapa. Ramesh Rayamajhi (C division), Indra Bahadur Karki (B bivision), Upendra Man Singh (players association), Raju Kaji Shakya (coaches association), Surendra Sikhrakar (referees association), Kalpana Piya Shrestha (women’s committee), Santosh Baniya (Eastern Region), Bir Bahadur Khadka (Central Region), Deepak Lamshal (Western Region), Pradesh Singh Rathor (Mid-western), Bhim Thapa (Far-western Region) and Indra Man Tuladhar (A Division) showed their solidarity towards Thapa’s candidacy.