The National League should have had 10 teams—four clubs that qualified from the ANFA President League and six of the top teams from the previous Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League. But there are 13 of the A-Division clubs in the ongoing National League, as the governing body of Nepali football could not handle the pressure from the clubs that refused to remain dormant due to the long absence of a top-tier league.

Even if there were only 10 clubs, the four teams from the President League would not be the favourites to win the National League, let alone a tournament involving 17 clubs.

Laligurans Association Club, the club representing Pokhara of Kaski district, qualified for the National League as the champions of the President League. Reaching the President League as the champions of Kaski and Gandaki, Laligurans have, of late, been the talk of the National League based on their performance and results.

Three in three wins for Laligurans

Opening the tournament with a 1-0 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club, Laligurans defeated their President League companion Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club 4-1 in the second match.

And on Friday, Laligurans defeated a five-time A-Division League champion, Nepal Police FC, with a last-minute goal to extend their winning streak to three.

In the last of the three matches of the day, Laligurans and Nepal Police were goalless until the 90 minutes of regulation time ended at Dasharath Stadium. But in the five minutes of added time, Laligurans found the back of the net.

Only around a minute was left for the referee to blow the whistle when Sudip Gurung, who was subbed in during the 84th minute, ran with the ball from the middle. He was obstructed by two Nepal Police players, but, with a bit of luck, he kept the ball and chipped it over the defenders to find Ashish Gurung inside the box. And Ashish, Laligurans’ No 10, did not miss.

It was Ashish’s second goal in the league. His first came in the 4-1 win over Nawa Jana Jagriti.

Despite being No 10, Ashish has not started in any of the three matches. Against Police, he was subbed in during the 68th minute.

“We have a strong bench,” Laligurans’ head coach Kiran Shrestha said during the post-match conference, explaining why he did not start with the No 10. “The players believe in the system and each other. This makes us a good team and this is why Ashish did not start off.”

Shrestha used all five substitutions to get fresh legs in the areas he saw fit. And it bore fruit.

“We are the underdogs,” Shrestha said, asked if his team could aim for the league title amidst the heavyweights of Nepali football. “We are taking one game at a time. The players have been told not to get too high with the wins. We will give our best in every game.”

Laligurans’ next opponents are Tribhuvan Army Club (January 27) and Machhindra FC (February 2).

But after defeating a departmental side on Monday, Shrestha believes it will motivate his players for the next game.

“Nepal Police are a good team with a good coach. And this win was the most special one among the last three,” he said. “Army, our next opponent, are great physically and also have a good coach. But this win will keep us extra motivated as we look for three more points.”

With three wins, Laligurans have their position at the top of the table secure.

Meanwhile, Nepal Police’s head coach Chetan Ghimire backed his players despite their second loss in three matches. Police lost their first match in the league 0-1 against Planning Boyz United and drew the second 1-1 with Chitlang FC, another club from the President League.

“I am happy with their performance though we conceded late and lost three points,” said Ghimire, a former Nepal Police striker. “I have formed a team of many young talents. It will take time for them to get used to playing at a top level.”

Ghimire also stated that his players were getting better with every game, and said, “There are good days ahead.”

Wins for Bhagawati and Satdobato

There was another match on Friday where one goal was enough to decide the winner. Satdobato Youth Club’s Fode Fofana scored the only goal of the match against Manang Marsyangdi Club in the first match played at Dasharath Stadium.

Fofana scored in the 61st minute. It was his second goal of the league. His first came in Satdobato’s 3-1 win over New Road Team.

Satdobato now have seven points in three matches, as they had played a goalless draw with Sankata FC in their first match of the league.

Nonetheless, there were goals raining in the first match of the day at the ANFA Complex. Shree Bhagawati Club, one of the two newly promoted clubs to the A Division, defeated Nawa Jana Jagriti 5-1.

Martins Kayode Ajayi scored the first goal of the match within two minutes of the first whistle. Shishir Lekhi then made it 2-0 by scoring the first goal of the league from the penalty spot in the 38th. Before the first half ended, youngster Subash Bam Thakuri made it 3-0 in the 42nd.

In the second half, a span of four minutes saw Bhagawati’s lead extended to 5-0. Semanta Thapa scored in the 54th minute, while Lekhi scored his second individual goal in the 58th. The only consolation goal for Nawa Jana Jagriti came in the 77th minute through Bikram Thokar.

There are two matches on Saturday, both at Dasharath Stadium. In the first fixture at 2pm, Machhindra FC will face Planning Boyz United, the B-Division champions. It will be followed by Chitlang FC playing Tribhuvan Army FC at 6:30pm.