They did not have champagne. But Planning Boyz United (PBU) were happy to celebrate their promotion to the A Division League, Nepal’s highest-tier club football competition, with water and Coke at the ANFA Complex Ground in Satdobato, Lalitpur.

“The celebration has started,” Sasendra Dhimal, PBU head coach, told the Post after ensuring their promotion on Tuesday. “It is our biggest achievement yet. Now, we will play as one of the best football clubs in Nepal.”

PBU ensured their promotion on a points basis in the 11th round; thus, the club has two more games in hand. Whether or not they will enter the A Division as the champions is yet to be witnessed.

They defeated Bansbari Club 2-0 on Tuesday to take their points up to 27, a number that cannot be challenged by any other team except Shree Bhagawati Club (SBC). SBC are second with 22 points from 10 games.

SBC will play the final game of the 11th round on Wednesday against Madhyapur Youth Association. If SBC succeed in either winning or drawing the fixture with Madhyapur, they will be the other team to be promoted to the A Division.

Bansbari’s goalie Sandip Raut made two disastrous mistakes that gifted the goals to PBU. After a goalless first half, Raut, within two minutes of the second half, headed the ball backwards, towards the net, rather than forward while coming outside the 18-yard box to prevent a counter.

Raut had almost saved Pujan Thapa’s shot in the 81st minute, but he guided the ball across the goalline by juggling.

A Division in 12 years

Planning Boyz United (PBU) are a new club based in Pepsicola Townplanning area of Kathmandu. They were formed in 2012. The same year, the club participated in the C Division League Qualifiers and won it to enter the top-tier club competition of the country.

For six seasons, from 2012 to 2021, PBU kept themselves alive in the C Division. They got their big break in 2022 as they finished second in the league and got promoted to the B Division alongside champions Jhapa FC.

Having spent only one season in the B Division, PBU will now play in the highest-tier, the A Division League, in the upcoming season. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has scheduled the A Division to kick off on December 16.

“We had been waiting for the B Division since we got promoted three years ago,” PBU’s manager Binayak Lamichhane said after the club’s promotion, while his players celebrated by splashing water at each other. They celebrated with Coke after the players and club staff were feted for the promotion by ANFA officials.

While the club’s staff and players seemed exhilarated, one face seemed relaxed. It was of Fagu Ram Tharu.

Tharu, who hails from Bardiya, has been with PBU for several years now. He was the leading scorer for the club when they got promoted to B Division, and he kept his form in the higher division.

“I am happy,” Tharu said, as he searched for words. “This club has been a family to me for several years now. I am happy to be a part of this historical achievement. We will keep fighting together on the bigger stage.”

With eight goals, Tharu is currently the leading goal scorer in the B Division this season.

Manager Lamichhane said they wouldn’t let their guard down in the remaining two games in the league as they face Nayabasti Youth Club on May 19 and Tusal Youth Club on May 29.

“We will keep our fighting spirit alive,” he said. “We want not only to be promoted as one of the Top 2 teams. We want to be the champions.”

Lamichhane credited his players and club staff for his team’s remarkable ascent.

“It was our first time in the B Division, but the hard work of the players and staff bore fruit,” he said. “Now we are in the A Division, and we do not want to be demoted ever again. Our main story begins now.”