Kathmandu, December 14:

A good goalkeeper can change the fortune of the team and Tribhuvan Army Club is just an example at the ongoing national league. The Army club has been performing well since Bikash Malla joined them this season and is leading the league standings.

The goalkeeper’s job in football is risky, as a minor mistake behind the bar might sink the whole team. But the goalkeeper’s responsibility cannot be undermined.

The national league has almost come to its half and all the teams are concentrating to their last round matches. And all the players of the 14 clubs are excited about the Yamaha G5 motorcycles to be awarded to the six individual best players. Yamaha Motors India is awarding seven motorcycles, one each to goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker, highest scorer, coach and a fan. Of the all, goalkeeper’s category will have less number of competitors.

Army’s Bikash Malla and Mahendra Police Club’s Ritesh Thapa — who have already won the awards — are in frontline this year as well. The national team glovesmen won the Yamaha G5 in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Army is the team that has conceded least number of goals this year and the credit largely goes to Malla. He did not concede any goal in six matches, which is equivalent to more than 500 minutes.

Ritesh Thapa’s contribution in keeping the Police team on top along with Army is also important. Both Army and MPC have 31 points from 11 matches. Ritesh earned clean sheet in five matches.

NRT’s Surendra Shrestha is another influential goalkeeper, who also leads his team. After Malla quit MMC, Sangeet Rajak joined the defending champion from Sankata and Rajak has been very impressive for his team. Other goalkeepers who have been doing their job fairly are Samit Rajbhandari of APF, Uzol Manandhar of Friends, Binod Gurung of BBC, Dasharath Adhikari of Machhindra and Mohammad Nijamuddin of JYC.