Anjila Tumbapo Subba’s earliest memory growing up is watching the adults in her village animatedly chasing a football across a field right beside her home. Born in Panchthar district in Koshi Province, the captain and goalkeeper of Nepal’s national women’s football team grew up admiring footballers. What she also remembers from her childhood is her initial hesitation towards the sport. The thought of stepping onto the field full of boys made her feel shy and uneasy. But her love for football defeated those hesitations.

Subba’s family, however, held reservations at the outset. They didn’t want their daughter engaged in a sport usually associated with boys. They didn’t see how it could help her in the future. But things changed when a local club saw her potential and invited her to join. This made her parents think differently.

“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really into being a goalkeeper back then,” says Subba. Yet, destiny had its say. There was an empty spot for a goalkeeper, and based on what older players suggested, Anjila decided to give it a shot. This decision would go on to shape her whole career. Over time, her family’s objections also turned into pride and support.

As she continued playing in local and (the then) zonal teams, the Armed Police Force (APF) Club noticed her talent and invited her to Kathmandu. “They made arrangements for my studies and promised me a spot on the team,” she recalls. After discussing with her family, Subba came to Kathmandu with a pair of football shoes that cost Rs500. She used the same shoes for years, repairing them repeatedly as she couldn’t afford to buy new ones.

In 2012, when she became a regular member of the APF club, her godfather and a high-ranking official of the APF sports department, Prem Shrestha, took her and a few other players to an Adidas store. There, she received a pair of football boots worth Rs10,000. The happiness she felt that day still brings tears to her eyes. However, Subba had to wait for two years on the bench before the coach finally gave her a chance to play for the team. Yet, she recalls those two years fondly, stating she learned the basics and advanced skills during her training days at APF.

In 2014, Subba played a big part in Nepal’s win at the AFC U-14 Regional Championship for South and Central Asia. In the final, the team had an impressive 4-0 victory over their rivals, India. This was a huge moment for her career. Later that same year, her dream of representing Nepal on a big stage became real when she earned a spot on the national team for the 2014 SAFF Women’s Championship. “Wearing the national team jersey made me emotional and filled me with a strong sense of pride,” she recalls.

Even though she was on the team, Subba was the understudy to more experienced goalkeepers. She learned a lot during this time, improving her skills and waiting patiently for her chance. After two years of training, she finally made the playing eleven for the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship against Sri Lanka. By the end of the same championship, she also took over as the first-choice goalkeeper of the national team. This was a moment she had been excitedly waiting for.

Since then, Subba has made 42 appearances for Nepal’s national team. Her journey reached even greater heights when she was entrusted with the captain’s responsibility ahead of the SAFF Women’s Football Championship in September last year. She continues to lead her teammates with pride and determination. In addition to her national duties, she plays for Sethu FC, a top-tier football club of India based in Tamil Nadu.

Subba’s journey has been marked by iconic moments, and one that stands out happened in 2019 during the Hero Women’s Gold Cup held in India. Nepal was up against their tough rivals, India, and they needed a victory to move to the next round. They managed to secure a 2-1 victory. It was the first-ever victory by Nepali women’s football team against India.

Speaking candidly about the challenges goalkeepers face, Subba points out that goalkeepers are often not given enough credit. “Even if we make ten saves and only let in two goals, people only remember the goals we let in,” she explains, adding that she wants people to recognise the essential role keepers play.

Subba also highlights the ongoing challenges that female football players encounter. She brings attention to the irregularity of games, the decrease in international matches since 2019 and the lack of proper facilities for players. “Even though a few positive changes have happened recently—like the increment in the monthly stipend female players get, there is still a lot of work to be done,” laments Subba.