The structural blueprint for the inaugural edition of the Nepal Volleyball League (NVL) has officially taken shape. Days after locking in highly decorated technical teams, the six franchises have announced their official marquee players, signalling a highly competitive dawn for the country’s first men’s franchise volleyball tournament.

Organised by the Kedia Group in association with the Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA), the league has strategically distributed the country’s premier volleyball talent to establish immediate parity ahead of the upcoming player auction.

National team skipper Harihajur Thapa will anchor Sagarmatha Smashers. The Smashers have paired Thapa’s on-court vision with head coach Utsav Khadka, an FIVB Level III-certified tactician who scooped dual ‘Best Coach’ honours at both the 7th Prime Minister Cup and the 7th National NVA Club Volleyball Championship. Sushila Thapa will join him as assistant coach.

Madhesh Warriors have secured the powerful presence of Rabin Nagarkoti as their marquee signing. Nagarkoti will be operating under the watchful eye of veteran head coach Bharat Yadav, the former boss of Nepal’s men’s national team. Yadav will be assisted by Suraj Bhujel.

Meanwhile, Kathmandu Reds have appointed Sunil Bohara as their marquee. Bohara joins head coach Nirpa Bahadur BK, a FIVB Level I certified coach who previously served as an assistant coach for Kathmandu Spikers during the Everest Women’s Volleyball League (EWVL). BK will share the technical bench with assistant coach Motiram Nepali.

In what promises to be a tactically robust setup, Annapurna Spiker Kings have unveiled Himal Sunari as their marquee face. Sunari falls under the tutelage of head coach Ramesh KC, renowned for guiding Gandaki Province through dominant domestic runs and leading Nepal’s U-20 men’s squad at the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) stage. Narendra Giri takes on the assistant coaching duties.

Karnali Shivraj, building on the regional franchise legacy established by their women’s counterpart (Karnali Yashvis), have signed Pahal Gahatraj as their marquee. To lead the charges, they have roped in Chandra Bahadur Kuwar as the head coach.

Kuwar was a National Beach Volleyball Championship winner representing the Nepal Police Club, where he also worked as an assistant coach for the men’s team. He will be flanked by assistant coach Deependra Prasad Bhatta in the NVL.

Similarly, Khaptad Falcons have landed Dhiroj Kaji Basnet as their marquee signing. The Falcons’ technical department boasts significant elite pedigree, secured by head coach Rupesh Kumar Bista.

Bista, an assistant coach of the national women’s team, famously guided the Nepal Police Club to multiple domestic league crowns and also clinched the 2024 CAVA Women’s Club Championship. Santosh Shrestha joins him as assistant coach.

With the foundational anchors of all six franchises now set under the tournament motto “A new flight to greater heights”, the NVL organisers are expected to release the official tournament dates and player auction schedules in the coming days.