Kathmandu, November 29:

Nabil Three Star Club needed last year’s top-scorer Obagbemiro Junior and the return of its inspirational skipper Upendra Man Singh to register the first confident win in seven matches at the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football here today. Three Star beat Saraswoti Youth Club (SYC) 4-0 while Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) blanked Machhindra Energizer FC 3-0.

The impact of Three Star’s new signings Junior and Chidiadichi Chyma showed immediate effect while the team looked confident after the arrival of veteran goalkeeper Upendra who was sidelined by injury. Junior, who played for Brigade Boys’ Club last season, put Three Star ahead in his debut match for his new club in the 18th minute. Another Nigerian debutant Chidiadichi doubled the lead in the 42nd minutes before Anjan KC added another on an assist from Junior in the 81st. Junior also assisted Uttam Gurung score the fourth.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said that the new signings and the return of Upendra had given the team a new hopes. “Their arrival has helped the team gain confidence and we will improve in the matches to come,” Maharjan said. Upendra, who will hang his boots after this season, also believed the new members would give more depth.

SYC coach Lokesh Thapa said that his players did not disappoint him but the Three Star’s Nigerian players made the difference. “We could have probably given a tough fight against the team they fielded until the sixth round,” Thapa said.

Meanwhile, SYC has filed a protest against Three Star alleging them of fielding the two Nigerian on the basis of the fake International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Under the new rules, a club should submit ITC and the Work Permit before registering the players at the All Nepal Football Association.

Earlier in the first match, Armymen defeated Machhindra 3-0 on two goals from Santosh Nepali and one from Bikarna Shrestha. The Armymen, who failed to break the defence in the first half, went ahead when unmarked Nepali scored in the 58th minute. Bikarna doubled the lead following a cross from Shiva Chaudhary in the 65th and Nepali sealed the match adding his second goal in the 77th minute.

Today’s matches

• MMC vs RCT @ 1:00pm

• NRT vs Sankata @ 3:00pm