The Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League will make its long-awaited return to the Dashrath Stadium on Saturday with Machhindra Club taking on Brigade Boys Club in the inaugural match of the new football season.

A total of 14 top clubs will vie for the honours in the league featuring 91 matches to be played under single round-robin from December 14 to February 15.

The country’s premier football league is being played at the stadium for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The stadium, severely damaged by the earthquakes in April 2015, was renovated for the 13th South Asian Games which concluded on December 10.

Besides the opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium played host to the Games’ football competition.

“Playing at the Dashrath Stadium always brings a special feeling,” said Sujal Shrestha, the captain of the Nepal U-23 team that successfully defended the football gold with a 2-1 victory over Bhutan on Tuesday.

“The presence of a large number of spectators than any other football venue thrills the player,” said the 27-year-old who signed for Machhindra this season.

The league resumed last year after the 2013-14 season owing to the infighting at the All Nepal Football Association. Most of the matches were played on the artificial turf of the ANFA Complex in Satdobato which has a seating capacity of only 1,500.

Shrestha, a key member of the title-winning Manang Marshyangdi Club last season, however, will miss the first four matches of the league through injury. He tore his thigh muscle in the Bangladesh match during the Games. “The doctors have suggested me to rest for two more weeks,” Shrestha said.

Machhindra had finished second from bottom in the last edition of the league that did not have the provision of relegation. But they have reinforced the squad this season with 11 new signings, including former national team captain Biraj Maharjan, Nepali internationals Bishal Rai, Bishal Shrestha, Avishek Rijal, Devendra Tamang and Ranjit Dhimal.

They have also recruited Nigerian forward Adelaja Somide and defender Peter Segun to complement domestic stars Rejin Subba and Buddha Chemjong. Machhindra, searching for their first league title, will unveil their full squad on Friday.

Defending champions Manang Marshyangdi will be facing challenges from Three Star Club, Nepal Police Club, Nepal Armed Police Force Club, Tribhuvan Army, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Friends’ Club, Sankata Club, Machhindra Club, Saraswati Youth Club, Chyasal Youth Club, New Road Team, Brigade Boys and Himalayan Sherpa Club over 64 days.

Of the Rs 13.7 million that the country’s football governing body, ANFA, has allocated for the tournament, the champions will take home Rs5 million. The runners-up will pocket Rs3.5 million and second runners-up will be richer by Rs 2.5 million.

Addressing a press meet on Thursday, ANFA General Secretary Indraman Tuladhar said clubs finishing in the top six positions will be awarded cash prizes. “Each club will get a sum of Rs2 million to prepare for the league competition,” Tuladhar said. The best players in four positions and the best coach will get a cash prize of Rs150,000 each. Similarly, Rs10,000 will be given away to the man-of-the-match after each game, Rs50,000 to the winners of a game.

As in the last season, two sides will pocket Rs15,000 each if a match ends in a draw.

ANFA and Qatar Airways in Rs 17m deal

KATHMANDU: ANFA announced on Thursday that it had reached a one-year deal with Qatar Airways as the league’s title sponsors.

Under the deal, the Doha-based carrier will provide ANFA $150,000 (Rs17 million) and the competition will be branded as Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial’ A’ Division League.

ANFA President Karma Tsering Sherpa and Qatar Airways Country Manager in Nepal Mohamed El Emam exchanged an MoU to that effect amid a function held at ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur.

“We are happy to get a multinational company as our title sponsor. This agreement builds upon our existing collaboration with Qatar Football Association and we are delighted to forge even closer ties with Qatar with this partnership,” said Sherpa.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said in a statement that the carrier was continually striving to boost its global sporting sponsorship portfolio. “This partnership is just one more example of our dedication to sports and our belief in its power to bring people together,” he said.