Martyr's Memorial A-Division League

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए- डिभिजन लिग) (formerly known as the Kathmandu League Championship) is the top divisions of football in Nepal. Contested by 12 to 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation within the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with every team playing each other once and the top six teams reach the Super Six round, where the teams again play each other once. It is officially known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
शहीद स्मारक ए डिभिजन लीग
Organising bodyANFA
Founded1954 (1954)
CountryNepal
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams14 (currently)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toMartyr's Memorial B-Division League
Domestic cup(s)various
International cup(s)AFC Cup
Current championsMachhindra FC (2nd title)
Most championshipsManang Marsyangdi Club (8 titles)
Top goalscorerSantosh Sahukhala (103 goals)
TV partnersKantipur Television (live telecast also in youtube)
MyCujoo (online streaming)
Websitewww.the-anfa.com
Current: 2021 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League

A new Nepal National League was created in 2011 to give chance to compete A level tournaments to the clubs outside Kathmandu valley. There were 9 clubs competing in the National League, 5 of which are teams of Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.[1][2]

History of the league

Prime minister Padma Shumsher started the Ram Janaki Football tournament in 1934 with the objective of solidifying the increasing public interest in football. After the establishment of democracy in 1950, the Nepali Police Force had initial successes, enjoying consecutive hat-trick wins and monopolizing the trophy for several years. The Nepal Football Association received the trophy from them, continuing the tournament in remembrance of national martyrs. The trophy is presented today to the winners of the "Martyr's Memorial League Tournament".

RCT won the trophy three subsequent times (1971–73). 1973 saw the formation of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), and the tournament continued under new authority, although there have been periodic stoppages due to financial and other reasons. (For instance, the political and economic turmoil of the 1990s stopped the tournament for several years.) League president, Ganesh Thapa, at one time revived ANFA (in 1995), but could not continue it for long. Complying with other football power nation rules, Nepal made ANFA its base for selecting the national teams, although the league still struggled to continue going into the 21st century. Financial problems has caused many football clubs to fold and some to postpone their participation with the most recent being New Road Team, which is the oldest club in Nepal.

Media coverage

ANFA deals with Nepal's popular tv channel Kantipur Television and Kantipur Cineplex to broadcast live . From 2nd round Kantipur Tv is also streaming A Division League on YouTube platform.

Clubs

Current clubs

The following 14 teams will compete in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League in the 2022–23 season, with two teams promoted from the B-Division.

Club 2021–22 position Location
Church Boys United 1st (B-Division) Kathmandu, Bagmati Province
Himalayan Sherpa Club 10th
Machhindra Football Club 1st
Nepal APF Club 8th
Tribhuvan Army F.C. 2nd
Nepal Police Club 11th
New Road Team 3rd
Sankata BSC 7th
Friends Club 12th Lalitpur, Bagmati Province
Jawalakhel YC 9th
Khumaltar Youth Club 2nd (B-Division)
Satdobato Youth Club 4th
Three Star Club 6th
Manang Marshyangdi Club 5th Pokhara, Gandaki Province

Champions

Since the start of the league, 16 different clubs have won the title in 43 tournaments. Manang Marshyangdi Club have the most (8 titles) under their belt. Machhindra Football Club are the current champions.[3]

S.N.SeasonB.S.Winner Top scorer
11954–552011Mahabir Club
21955–562012Police Force
31956–572013Police Force (2)
41957–582014Army XI
1958–59/1959–60League not held
51960–612017New Road Team
61962–632019New Road Team (2)
71963–642020Bidya Byama
1964–65/1965–66League not held
81966–672023Mahabir Club (2)
91967–682024Friends Union
101968–692025Deurali Club
111969–702026Mahabir Club (3)
121970–712027Deurali Club (2)
131971–722028Ranipokhari Corner Team
141972–732029Ranipokhari Corner Team (2)
151973–742030Ranipokhari Corner Team (3)
1619752032Boys Union Club
1719762033Sunakhari Athletic Club
1819772034Annapurna Club
1919782035New Road Team (3)
2019792036Ranipokhari Corner Team (4)
2119802037Sankata Boys Club
221981–822038Ranipokhari Corner Team (5)
2319822039Annapurna Club (2)
2419832040Sankata Boys Club (2)
2519842041Ranipokhari Corner Team (6)
2619852042Sankata Boys Club (3)
2719862042–43Manang Marsyangdi Club
2819872043–44Manang Marsyangdi Club (2)
19882045League not held
2919892046Manang Marsyangdi Club (3)
1990–1994League not held
3019952052New Road Team (4)
19962053League not held
3119972054Three Star Club
3219982055Three Star Club (2)
19992056League not held
3320002057Manang Marsyangdi Club (4) Nirajan Rayamajhi (15 goals)
2001–2002League not held
342003–042060Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) Surendra Tamang (15 goals)
3520042061Three Star Club (3) Basanta Thapa (20 goals)
362005–062062Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) Junior Obagbemiro

Rishi Rai (27 goals)

372006–072063Mahendra Police Club (3) Anil Gurung (31 goals)
2007–20092064–2066League not held due to conflicts between ANFA and the clubs[4]
3820102066–67Nepal Police Club (4) Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals)
3920112068Nepal Police Club (5) Ju Manu Rai (21 goals)
2011–12 2068–2069 Nepal National League was held instead
402012–132069Three Star Club (4) Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals)
412013–142070Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) Karna Limbu (11 goals)
2014–152071Nepal National League was held instead
2015/16–2017/182072–2074League not held due to aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake
42 2018–19 2075 Manang Marsyangdi Club (8) Afeez Oladipo, Bharat Khawas, Ranjit Dhimal (7 goals)
43 2019–20 2076 Machhindra Football Club Aashish Lama (9 goals)
44 2021–22 2078 Machhindra Football Club (2) Jamoul Francois[lower-alpha 1] (7 goals)

Wins by club

Club Winners Winning Seasons
Manang Marshyangdi Club81986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2018–19
Ranipokhari Corner Team61971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979, 1981–82, 1984
Nepal Police Club (formerly Police Force and Mahendra Police Club)51955–56, 1956–57, 2006–07, 2010, 2011
New Road Team41960–61, 1962–63, 1978, 1995
Three Star Club1997, 1998, 2004, 2012–13
Mahabir Club31954–55, 1966–67, 1969–70
Sankata Boys Club1980, 1983, 1985
Annapurna Club21977, 1982
Deurali Club1968–69, 1970–71
Machhindra Football Club2019–20, 2020–21
Nepal Army Club (formerly Army XI)11957–58
Bidya Byama1963–64
Boys Union Club1975
Friends Union1967–68
Sunakhari Athletic Club1976

A-Division clubs in Asia

Martyr's Memorial A-Division clubs participated in the AFC President's Cup from its foundation in 2005 till its dissolution in 2014. Since 2015, the winners of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League qualify for the AFC Cup. A-Division clubs could also qualify for the Asian Club Championship before 2004.

AFC President's Cup

Season Team Position
2005 Three Star Club Semi-Final
2006 Manang Marshyangdi Club 3rd in Group Stage
2007 Mahendra Police Club Runner-up
2008 Nepal Police Club Semi-Final
2009 Nepal Police Club 4th in Group Stage
2010 New Road Team 3rd in Group Stage
2011 Nepal Police Club 4th in Group Stage
2013 Three Star Club 3rd in Final Stage
2014 Manang Marshyangdi Club 2nd in Final Stage

AFC Cup

Season AFC Cup Position
2015 Manang Marshyangdi Club DNP
2019 Manang Marshyangdi Club 4th in Group Stage
2021 Tribhuvan Army Club Preliminary round 2
2022 Machhindra F.C. Preliminary round 1

Asian Club Championship

Season AFC Cup Position
1985–86 New Road Team 5th in Qualifiers
1987 Manang Marshyangdi Club 4th in Qualifiers
1990–91 Ranipokhari Corner Team 3rd in Qualifiers
1996–97 New Road Team First Round
1997–98 Mahendra Police Club First Round
1998–99 Three Star Club First Round

Notes

  1. Despite Jamoul Francois and Messouke Oloumou both scoring 7 goals each, ANFA awared the title of top goalscorer to Jamoul Francois, as he scored the goals in less time.[5]

See also

References

  1. at ANFA Official Site
  2. at FIFA Official Site, National League Table 2015
  3. "Nepal - List of Champions and Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. "Nepal 2010". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. "Sunil Bal Player of the Tournament, Satdobato Fair Play team". All Nepal Football Association. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
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