A small girl wearing Argentina’s iconic number 10 jersey stepped onto the football ground premises at the Armed Police Force headquarters in Halchowk, Kathmandu, on Sunday. She was received like a celebrity—national team mainstays and age-group players associated with APF FC lined up to welcome her and make her feel right at home.

The 11-year-old prodigy, Sajani Tamang, had travelled around 180 kilometres from her hometown in Devchuli Municipality, Nawalpur district, to begin a life-changing chapter. Recognising her extraordinary raw talent, APF FC—Nepal’s most decorated women’s football club—has brought the youngster into their fold, committing to board, mentor and train her into one of the country’s finest players.

Nepali women’s football is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity, fueled by strong national team performances and the international success of stars like Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’, Preeti Rai, Anjila Tumbapo Subba and Rekha Poudel. Now, Tamang is emerging as the next captivating story in Nepali women’s football.

Tamang first captured the nation’s imagination when the country was busy with the FIFA World Cup. Videos of her effortlessly dribbling past opponents double her size and firing in long-range screamers went viral. What started as digital buzz, however, has quickly turned into a concrete path toward elite football.

“We cannot sign an official contract with Sajani because she is a minor right now,” APF women’s head coach Jibesh Pandey told the Post. “But we will be covering her education and stay at the best boarding school nearby. We could not enrol her at APF’s school because it will be far. She is a very bright student as well, so we are looking for the best. Studying nearby will allow her to join regular training.”

Pandey added, “Sajani is also coachable. When I saw some flaws in her passing, I gave her some guidance. And she took it so well and mitigated the mistake in the next passes.”

Tamang’s journey with football

Tamang, 11, started playing with the ball in Devchuli around five years ago. And her life changed a couple of months ago when Devchuli Municipality conducted a 60-day grassroots training camp.

“Bimal, one of the local coaches, saw Sajani play at a ground nearby her house,” said Prakash Kafle, member secretary at the Sports Development Committee of the municipality. “And he called her to join the 60-day camp.” The camp was organised to create a U16 football team for an inter-municipal tournament in the district.

Tamang amazed everyone who saw her play—during the training and the tournament. She helped her municipality win the title and was adjudged the player of the tournament. It was her videos of the tournament that went viral.

“I often visit tournaments scouting young talents,” said Santosh Shrestha, the man who uploaded Tamang’s videos on social media. “She was so great with the ball. And that too at such a tender age. I had never seen an 11-year-old with that dedication and determination towards the game.”

Tamang, who is good with both her feet, hails from a struggling family. Her parents are working as migrant workers—her father is in Saudi Arabia and her mother in Kuwait. She currently stays with her grandparents.

“Sajani’s father has been a migrant worker for a long time. Her mother went to Kuwait not long ago,” Shrestha informed. “They are extremely happy after finding out that Sajani was approached by APF.”

Sajani’s love for Messi and Preeti Rai

Tamang had a clear choice of the clothes she wanted to wear when she would go to APF’s football ground. She reached there with her idol Lionel Messi’s jersey.

“Sajani was extremely excited to visit APF’s ground and meet with players and coaches. Her biggest desire has been to meet Preeti Rai,” Shrestha said. “When a call was arranged with Preeti while she was in Halchowk, her happiness knew no bounds.”

Rai, Nepal’s midfield maestro, is currently playing for Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC in the Cambodian Premier League.

In a vlog uploaded by former national captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Tamang could be seen happy when she met national players like Subba, Gita Rana, Renuka Hamal, Pratikshya Chaudhary and Man Maya Damai alongside APF’s senior and underage players.

“After she met these great players and had a talk with Preeti, Sajani has been saying that she will only join APF,” Shrestha said.

This is the first time Tamang has come to Kathmandu. She also visited Dasharath Stadium, the home of Nepali football, on Monday evening before heading back home. And she was also welcomed at the National Sports Council by vice-chairman Bishal Shrestha, who is also a former national footballer.

“APF’s coach Bijay KC reached out to me after seeing Sajani’s videos,” Santosh Shrestha said. “APF covered the transportation and stay of Sajani, her grandmother and brother, and myself. We reached our home today [Tuesday] morning.”

A future secured

It is not that Tamang did not receive any offers from other clubs before APF.

“Tokha Bhagawati and some other clubs had also approached to recruit Tamang,” said Set Bahadur Pun, president of Nawalpur District Football Association. “But when I heard that she is joining APF, it was a big moment for the district. I feel that Tamang’s future is secured now. She has made the whole district proud.”

APF is currently the dream of emerging Nepali women footballers because it is where Samba, Rai, Subba, and many others began their football careers. Most of the national team players are associated with the club, making them the dominant force in women’s football.

“Her [Sajani] happiness is our happiness,” Tamang’s grandmother said in the video uploaded by Subba. “All of us want her to have a good future. She is saying that she does not want to return home after meeting the players.”

According to Shrestha, Tamang’s mother and father are also equally relieved after finding out that APF will look after their child.

“I talked with Sajani’s parents before bringing her to Kathmandu,” Shrestha said. “They say they are happy and relieved because APF will certainly take good care of her.”

APF is still searching for a good school with a hostel for Tamang.

“Once the school is finalised, she will be called back to Kathmandu,” said head coach Pandey. “It is then that her proper training will begin.”

For Tamang, whose football journey started just five years ago on local pitches in Devchuli while her parents worked overseas to support the family, the leap to Halchowk is nothing short of life-changing.

As APF FC finalises her schooling and accommodation, Tamang is preparing to make the Capital her permanent home. Standing alongside national mainstays and inspired by her idols, the girl in the Argentina number 10 jersey is no longer just an internet sensation. She is now officially on the path toward becoming the future of Nepali women’s football.