Kathmandu: The National League Football tournament begins today, featuring 17 teams competing for the national title. A total of 136 matches will be played across three venues in Kathmandu and Lalitpur—Dasarath Stadium, the ANFA Complex, and Chyasal Ground.

Prize Money and AFC Qualification
The winner of this season’s National League will receive a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh, while the runner-up will take home Rs 25 lakh. The third-placed team will be awarded Rs 1.5 lakh, and the fair play (most disciplined) team will receive Rs 100,000.

Teams will also earn Rs 20,000 for each match victory. Importantly, the league champion will secure eligibility to compete in the AFC Club Championship.

Each team is allowed to register a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 40 players.

Participating Teams
The 17 teams competing in the league are:
Church Boys United, Machhindra Club, Nepal Police Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Satdobato Youth Club, New Road Team (NRT), Laligurans Youth Club, Chitlang FC, Nawa Janajagruti Club, Kankrebihar Sports Club, Tribhuvan Army Club, Manang Marsyangdi Club, Sankata Club, Friends Club, APF Club, Planning Boys Club and Shree Bhagwati Club.

Kankrebihar Sports Club and Friends Club will face each other in the opening match.

League Replaces A Division
Organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the National League has replaced the top ‘A’ Division League, which has not been held for the past two and a half years.

The league includes 11 of the top 12 clubs from the 2079 BS A Division League, four teams from the ANFA President League, and two promoted teams from the B Division—Planning Boys Club and Shree Bhagwati Club.

Himalayan Sherpa Club, however, has opted out of the competition.

Clubs Enter League with Limited Preparation
Most clubs have admitted to entering the National League with short-term preparation and incomplete squads. At a pre-league press conference held on Tuesday, several teams acknowledged that preparations were insufficient due to late player availability and player migration.

Only three departmental teams—Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club and APF Club—said they were able to maintain regular preparation. Nepal Police Club, however, also cited the impact of player exodus.

Nawajagruti Club and Kankrebihar Sports Club were absent from the press conference.

Coaches and Captains Share Expectations
Friends Club coach Ramesh Maharjan said the team has been built around young players and expressed confidence in finishing within the top six. Captain Rupesh KC added that the club is prioritizing domestic talent without recruiting foreign players.

Shree Bhagwati Club captain Ashok Khawas admitted preparation was weak, likening the league to a knockout-style challenge, though assistant coach Dhaneshwor Prajapati said the squad includes experienced domestic and foreign players. The club aims to finish among the top three.

Church Boys United assistant coach Ramesh Dangal expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, while captain Eric Bista said the squad has a good balance of young, domestic and foreign players and will challenge for the title.

Machhindra Club coach Prabhesh Katuwal said delayed preparation and player commitments elsewhere have affected fitness levels, though the club will still compete for the championship. Captain Bishal Shrestha echoed concerns about ineffective preparation.

NRT coach Jeevan Sinkeman cited ground availability and player unavailability as challenges but remained optimistic about the team’s title prospects.

Chitlang FC, competing after qualifying through the ANFA President League, is fielding a young squad with limited experience. Coach Prajwal Pratap Chhetri said the team aims to perform competitively despite the lack of seasoned players.

Match Schedule Uncertainty

ANFA plans to complete 64 matches in the first phase of the league by Falgun 15. However, the schedule for the second phase has not yet been finalized due to complications arising from the announcement of ANFA’s early elections, which are currently under court review.