KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has avoided going into the elections after 14 of the 36 member candidates pulled back their candidacy during the general assembly here today.

The consensus meant that the 22 members were elected unopposed for four-year term in the ANFA central executive committee. President Ganesh Thapa was already assured to retaining the presidency for the fourth consecutive term after being elected unopposed on August 8.

Eight ANFA vice presidents — Bijay Narayan Manandhar, Sunil Kapali, Lalit Krishna Shrestha, Narendra Shrestha, Mahesh Bista, Karma Chhering Sherpa, Kumar Jung Thapa and Kishor Rai — were also unanimously elected the same day president was elected.

Among the candidates to pull out their candidacy were Santosh Kumar Baniya (Morang), Prabin Kumar Yadav (Siraha), Indra Bahadur Karki (Samajik Yuva Club), Bishnu Prasad Upadhyay (Koilapani Polstar), Prakash Pangeni (Nawalparasi), Suresh Shah (Panchthar), Rabindra Nath Shrestha (Kavre), Prakash Singh Bista (Kailali), Khadak Prasad Thapa (BBC), Ashok Bista (Satdobato Youth Club), Mohan Kumar Basnet (Shree Kumari Club), Devendra Man Singh Basnet (Saptari), Janak Bhadur Rawal (Surkhet) and Deepak Rai (Sunsari).

The newly elected president Thapa also proposed the names for Chief Executive Officer (CEO), General Secretary and Treasurer during the assembly. Thapa proposed Indra Man Tuladhar, Dhirendra Pradhan and Birat Jung Shah as the CEO, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The first ANFA executive committee meeting on Tuesday morning will have to endorse the proposal. “Tuesday’s meeting will also nominate Deputy General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and Vice-treasurer”, said Lalit Krishna Shrestha.

Thapa also proposed three of the five advisors in the committee. Among the advisors proposed by the president were CEO of Nabil Bank Anil Shah, MD of Gorkha Brewery CP Khetan and Directof of Golcha Organisation Shekhar Golcha .

Meanwhile, a budget of Rs 73.1 million for the year 2009/10 was also tabled during the assemble in contrast to last year’s Rs 45.1 million. Of the total budget, Rs 15.3 million was allocated to the national football league alone.

ANFA congress constituted of 229 members — 120 from 40 district FAs, 60 from 20 ‘A’ Division Clubs, 29 from current ANFA executive committee, a total of 12 from Players,’ Coaches’, Referees’ and Women Football Associations, five from ‘B’ Division and three from ‘C’ Division clubs.

There were, however, only 72 voting members.

ANFA executive committee

President: Ganesh Thapa

Vice Presidents: Bijay Narayan Manandhar, Sunil Kapali, Lalit Krishna Shrestha,

Narendra Shrestha, Mahesh Bista,

Karma Chhering Sherpa, Kumar Jung

Thapa and Kishor Rai.

General Secretary: Dhirendra Pradhan

(to be endorsed)

CEO: Indra Man Tuladhar (to be endorsed)

Treasurer: Birat Jung Shah (to be endorsed)

Members: Mohammad Samiullah (Bara),

Kiran Rai (Udayapur), Basanta Aryal

(ANFA), Ratna Kumar Shrestha (Tanahu),

Bir Bahadur Khadka (Sindhupalchowk),

Purushottam Adhikari (Sarlahi), Dinesh Byanjankar (Chyasal Youth Club),

Deepak Khati (ANFA), Gobardhan

Singh Samjhana (ANFA), Chandra

Kumar Maharjan (Star Club), Hari Prasad Shrestha (Rupandehi), Pankaj Bikram Nembang (ANFA), Raju Shrestha (Chitwan), Prahlad Prasad Shah (Mahottari), Ramesh Rayamajhi (Navajyoti Yuva Pariwar), Sanjeev Bahadur Shahi (Gyan Bhairav Club), Mani Kunwar (ANFA), Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai (ANFA), Ganesh Bahadur Chand (ANFA), Madhu Sudan Upadhyay (Bansbari Club), Sunil SJB Rana (ANFA) and Purna Man Chitrakar (Nuwakot).