Armed Police Force FC’s head coach Rajendra Tamang was happy with his team. “The players played well,” he said after the 4-1 win over Church Boys United at Chyasal Stadium. “They were counselled well, and they implemented the plans we made for the match against the defending A-Division champions.”

Tamang, however, was dissatisfied with the ground.

Chyasal Stadium was buried under layers of sand and mud after the September 2024 flood in Manohara River. Efforts were made to bring it back to operation and it hosted hockey tournaments and ANFA Women’s National League Qualifier. Currently, it is hosting the ANFA National League.

“Based on the recent condition of the ground, it should only be used for practice,” Tamang, who is also a former national women’s team head coach, said in the post-match conference. “I had complained about it during our last match as well.”

APF had played their first match of the National League against Friends’ Club Kopundole on January 18 at Chyasal Stadium. APF had won it 1-0 thanks to an own goal by Khemraj Shrestha.

“Whenever a player falls down at this venue, he sustains bruises and cuts,” Tamang said, citing the muddy Chyasal Stadium that has no green grass. “There are also high risks for the players sustaining cramps.”

Samiraj Thokar and Pradip Lama made it 2-0 for APF in the first half, while a second-half brace from captain Yubraaj Khadka saw the departmental side cruise to a 4-0 cushion. Milan Rai scored the only consolation goal for Church Boys in the 82nd minute.

“We are a strong team on paper,” said Church Boys United’s assistant coach Ramesh Dangal. “But if we play like today, we cannot realise the dream of winning this league.”

Dangal informed that his team did not even perform 20 percent of what they showed during training. “We had even trained at Chyasal for a couple of days,” he said. “We need to improve to be a challenger.”

Similarly, when Friends’ Club Kopundole’s head coach Bishnu Gurung was asked about the condition of Chyasal Stadium, he said that the organisers should have provided better venues.

“But that is what we have available,” Gurung, who was dressed formally with a tie, an unusal look compared to other Nepali coaches, said after the goalless draw with Sankata FC in the second match of the day at Chyasal Stadium. “On good grounds, players can also play better. It would be great if games were played on such grounds.”

Friends’ and Sankata had many chances to not end the match goalless. The best chance for Friends’ was in the 41st minute with Ashish Chapagain gaining a 1v1 situation with goalkeeper Tikendra Singh Thapa. But as he neared the 18-yard box, Taye Daniel Badaru made a tackle from the back and fouled Chapagain. While Badaru was shown a straight red card, a move that was acceptable for Sankata’s head coach Rabindra Silakar, it denied Friends’ a major chance.

“Hard to score goals,” Gurung said before being seated for the post-match conference. “During the second half, the ball was only in the half of Sankata. It showed we were dominating the match. But we could not capitalise on the chances.”

Meanwhile, Sankata’s head coach Silakar argued that the performances of the opponents have started raising his hopes. “Firstly, we had created a balanced team that would not lose points,” he said. “But as I have witnessed other opponents, I believe we can start fighting for three points.”

On the other hand, in the only match of the day played at ANFA Complex, New Road Team defeated Kankrebihar Club 2-0. Both goals came in the first half with Timothy Chiemerie Okereke scoring in the very second minute and Randip Paudel making it 2-0 in the 35th.

There are three matches on Friday. The only match at ANFA Complex will see Shree Bhagawati Club face Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club at 11am. In the other two matches scheduled at Dasharath Stadium, Satdobato Youth Club will face Manang Marsyangdi Club at 2am, and Laligurans Association will be up against Nepal Police Club at 6:30pm.