The second season of the Nepal Super League is set to kick off on Friday. In the opening fixture, Kathmandu Rayzrs will begin their defence of the title against newcomers Sporting Ilam at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

The NSL is taking place three years after the first edition that was played amid the coronavirus pandemic from April 24 to May 15, 2021.

A total of nine teams, including two other new teams Jhapa FC and Birgunj United, are participating in the tournament that will conclude on December 30. Other teams include FC Chitwan, Pokhara Thunders, Butwal Lumbini, Lalitpur FC and Dhangadhi FC.

Biratnagar City, one of the founding members of the NSL, withdrew from the tournament.

Kathmandu coach Bal Gopal Maharjan is aiming to guide his men to a second title but conceded his team have not had enough preparation time.

“We believe we could repeat last season’s feat. We certainly did not get enough time for preparation but we will play to defend our title,” Maharjan said.

Megh Raj KC is the coach of Ilam.

Kathmandu will be without Cameroonian players Stephane Samir Binong and Messouke Oloumou. Binong is playing for Butwal Lumbini this season.

Hishub Thapaliya is the marquee player of Kathmandu.

Kathmandu’s title winning goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu has signed for Ilam and wants to win the title again. “I won the title with Kathmandu last season. I want to lift the trophy with Ilam this edition,” Kuthu said.

Last edition’s runners-up Dhangadhi FC begin their campaign against Birgunj on Sunday as they eye success. They boast rising national member Aashish Chaudhary, Kritish Ratna Chhunju and the 2023 Martyrs Memorial A-Division League top scorer Olawale Afeez.

The organisers have more than doubled the winners’ prize money this edition, according to league director Shreyansh Karki. However the organisers have yet to announce the amount.

Reigning Kathmandu won Rs3.5 million after defeating Dhangadhi 1-0 in the final last edition.