Throw us out if we are wrong: ANFA

Kathmandu, November 12:

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) today met with National Sports Council member secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha and challenged the sports’ supreme body to throw them out if found guilty.

The ANFA delegation led by presdient Ganesh Thapa handed over a memorandum to Shrestha urging the NSC to revoke its decision of dissolving the ANFA. The NSC on Friday cancelled the elections of 15 associations held during the Royal regime. “ANFA is a non-political organisation and its election was held in due time. So we urge the council to review its decision that could supress the growth of football in Nepal,” said ANFA in the letter which was read out by Thapa.

“We were surprised by the decision. We held our elections after the February 1 move but that was not because we favoured the step taken by the King. The term of the previous committee was over and we were not in position to wait for another government to hold our election,” said Thapa.

ANFA officials Kishor Rai, Basanta Aryal, Pankaj Bikram Nemwang, Deepak Khati, Lalit Krishna Shrestha, Gopi Bhattarai, Karma Tsering Sherpa and Narendra Shrestha also reiterated Thapa’s voice. “You are free to investigate and throw us out of the ANFA if any of our members are guilty. But you cannot wreck havoc in the name of Loktantra,” they said.

“Today you cancelled the elections on the pretext of the ‘period’ and what if the change in the NSC helm asks us tomorrow to cancel the election held during your tenure,” asked Thapa.

Thapa also said that the NSC did not have the right to dissolve the association. “We are not your employee but the association that have come forward for your affiliation. So you don’t have the right to destroy us,” argued Thapa. “I was thrown out from the NSC vice president post after the Royal takeover and now the same council formed after the Jana Andolan II is trying to punish me. How come it be justified,” said Thapa.

NSC member secretary Shrestha reiterated his version and asked the ANFA officials to cooperate with the decision. “I don’t think we have made wrong decision, so there is no need of reviewing the decision,” adament Shrestha said.

Later at a press meet, ANFA said that it would not be able to continue with its programmes if the situation remains unchanged. “We cannot organise our events without FIFA and AFC grants and the international bodies won’t recognise ad hoc committee,” said Thapa. “The NSC move has put the development of football in jeopardy.”