Nepal Sports and Events Management (NSEM) has announced to organise Nepal Super League (NSL), the first franchise football league of the country, from April 24 to May 8 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

The first edition of the tournament will feature seven franchise teams—one city team each from all seven provinces, said Sudeeep Sharma, the CEO of NSEM at a press conference on Monday.

The event will be held under the technical support of the football governing body, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The matches will be played in the single round robin format and will have a total of 21 games.

According to the NSEM, they will announce the franchise teams and owners within next two weeks. "The ambition behind organising the event is to attract the private sector to football and to make the game more professional," said Sharma. "Players will be the most to benefit from the league."

The players will be auctioned after listing them under four categories and one team can recruit three overseas players and field two at a time. Each team will have 20 players.

According to ANFA President Karma Tsering Sherpa they have allocated two months period for the tournament and the clubs would release the players for the time period.

"The club will also have less burdens and the player would also benefit financially," said Sherpa adding that it was a trial event and the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League was the major league.