Sports
Top-tier Kathmandu football clubs get financial assistance
Six top-tier football clubs of Kathmandu district are set for a financial boost as Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) announced Rs 930,000 grant on Monday.Six top-tier football clubs of Kathmandu district are set for a financial boost as Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) announced Rs 930,000 grant on Monday.
The KMC and the clubs—Himalayan Sherpa, New Road Team (NRT), Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Machhindra Youth Club Sankata Club and Saraswati Youth Club—signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday. According to KMC, the grant will be provided as per its policy to invest in sports and recognise clubs for their role in contribution to the national sports. KMC chief of the Social Development Department and presidents of the clubs signed the MoU. The grant will not just be limited for the clubs that fall under KMC territory but covers the whole Kathmandu district.
As per five-point agreements, the grant amount should be spent only for sports’ purpose. The sports kits including jerseys, track suits and bag must bear the logo of KMC. The clubs must be registered as per the law of the country and meet legal procedures including renewal and audit among others. The KMC must be formally informed about inaugural and closing ceremony of sports events as well under the deal. The agreement can be terminated if the clubs are found to have breached the deal.
All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Karma Tsering Sherpa, who is also the president of Himalayan Sherpa, praised the KMC initiative as historic. “The grant will definitely boost the development of Nepali football which is going to have its first football league, stalled since last four years, from September 29,” said Sherpa. Informing that KMC has allowed the ‘A’ Division clubs to use Tundikhel grounds, Sherpa said that the Club Licensing provision brought by the FIFA, the world football governing body, and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) would formally start from the season.
“There will be crisis of players for the national team until there won’t be strong league in the country,” added Sherpa. “In hope of producing as many players as possible, we have planned three structure of leagues: National, Martyrs Memorial and Anfa President’s League,” said Sherpa adding that Nepal will have nine different national teams from next year including age-group and women teams.
KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya said KMC decided to provide the grant to motivate the most popular game of the country. “ANFA officials told me that the ‘A’ division clubs could not survive just by fielding local players. So we decided to provide them grant,” said Shakya adding that it was just the beginning and the financial assistant may increase in future. Shakya also urged the clubs to target the league title which could motivate them to provide even greater support in future.