Shakya will assume the MMC coaching responsibilities in their opening day match against Far Western Football Club (Kailali) at the Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday. Shakya said he has taken the task of managing the champion team as a challenge.

“MMC are a great club with very good players and our target will be to clinch the trophy,” said Shakya. “But it will be a huge challenge for me to get the team ready in the short period. Shakya’s last coaching assignment was with the national team in 2014.

MMC, who won seven tournaments last year, have had a disastrous years crashing out of the Anfa Cup in the year’s first tournament before losing to Nepal Police Club in the semi-finals of the Manakamana Cable Car Pokhara Cup and then in the first round of the Simara Gold Cup this month. MMC General Secretary Pemba Gurung, meanwhile, said that Nabin Neupane, who had managed the team since receiving one year ban on February 8 last year, will be serving the team as a player-cum-assistant coach.

“He is about to serve his one year ban. After that he can get back to playing. He will also be assisting Shakya,” said Gurung. Apart from his brief stint as the head coach of the national team, the 54-year-old Shakya has also managed the U-19 national team, Armed Police Force’s women’s team and Machhindra Football Club in the past.