2011 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (known as the Martyrs' Memorial Red Bull 'A' Division League Football Tournament 2011 for sponsorship reasons) was the 39th season of the A-Division League
since its establishment in 1954/55. A total of 18 teams competed in the league. The season began on 28 April 2011 and concluded on 16 July 2011.
Defending champion Nepal Police Club won the league.
as the top-tier league of country. So the league had returned to single leg round robin formation.
, Santosh Sahukhala
, Sandeep Rai, Nirajan Khadka.
However, Jawalakhel Youth was the club to have the most significant rise in the league. JYC, which finished last season in the seventh position among 12 teams, jumped to third place this time. After finishing 2039 BS league in the second position, this was the best result for the club. Meanwhile, JYC won fair play award and its credit goes to coach Kishor KC without doubt. The coach maintained the discipline in the team and made players work hard on the field.
New Road Team (NRT) and RCT maintained a good run in the league with average players while Bansbari Club gained the reputation of giant killer after defeating Three Star, RCT and Armed Police Force. But its reputation was later tarnished by match fixing rumors in the match against Machhindra Club.
Despite a shaky start, Army Club bounced back and stormed into the top eight. But, another departmental team APF could not come up with better result. The last season relegation battler signed a number of talented players for this season but finished only in the 12th position.
Relegated Koilapani Polestar, United Youth, Brigade Boys and last season´s wonder Machhindra could not do well in the season. Machhindra had finished sixth last season.
Meanwhile, four coaches left the team in the middle of the league tournament. MMC coach Bal Gopal Maharjan left the club after the arrival of Korean coach Lee-Tae Ho. MMC management was not happy with the performance of Maharjan.
Likewise, Army Club coach Dambar Singh Gurung left the club after two losses, three draws and two wins in the initital eight matches.
Machhindra Club coach Chhiring Lopsang quit the club blaming management interference while Koilapani coach Raju Pulami pulled out after the club´s poor performance.
African players like Gerard Mukonza (JYC), Eugene Gray (Baudhha FC), Dennis Ovko Ochieng (Bansbari), Aarone Blackie Cole (NRT), Ntolo Ngoumou (RCT) and Mohemmad Naved (Saraswati) were the best.
However, Himalayan Sherpa´s Castory D Mumbara and Allen Oryek could not fit the bill, which they had gained in the last season.
Even big spending clubs were seen surviving on donations from fans and locals. Except departmental teams, NRT, RCT and Friends, other clubs lack regular income source.
After the revelation of Koilapani´s plight, ANFA faced severe criticism for not having proper regulation about club management. The question over the financial and legal structure of a club to participate in the top flight tournament still remains unanswered.
However, matches like MMC vs Three Star, MMC vs Police and Police vs Three Star pulled few thousands to the stadium.
Controversy over referee decision
Clubs management and coaches blamed the referee decisions for their losses. MMC President Tashi Ghale even threatened to quit National League if referees´ competence is not enhanced. RCT coach Madhu Karki also had demanded action against referees who made unwise decisions.
However, referee inspectors and ANFA official have urged clubs to inculcate the culture of accepting defeats.
In some matches, fans were found indulging in vandalism. Bauddha fans vandalized seats of the parapet after the club conceded a penalty goal against Three Star and the latter´s fans involved in the similar incident when Nepal Police beat them. Security personnel were found provoking Three Star fans during the match.
Nepal Police personnel mobilized for security were found clashing with Army Club supporters after the completion of their match.
However, ANFA could not do anything to control such acts except fining Baudhha FC and Three Star Club.
Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Martyr's Memorial Red Bull 'A' Division League is the top division of the All Nepal Football Association in Nepal...
since its establishment in 1954/55. A total of 18 teams competed in the league. The season began on 28 April 2011 and concluded on 16 July 2011.
Defending champion Nepal Police Club won the league.
Major Changes
This is the highest participation in a season in the history of the league. Altogether 153 matches were played at the Dasharath Stadium and Hallchowk Ground. ANFA cut the league short this season keeping in view the increased number of ´A´ division clubs. The timing also had to be reduced to final constraints and the timing of world cup qualifiers. The major was due the inception of National League (Nepal)National League (Nepal)
The National League is the top-tier football competition of Nepal. The champions are qualified to AFC President's Cup-Format:National league is a football tournament to be organised by ANFA in Nepal with home and away format from 2011/12 season...
as the top-tier league of country. So the league had returned to single leg round robin formation.
Features
Nepal Police proved to be the best maintaining undefeated streak till the 16th match and scoring the highest number of goals (54) while conceding only seven goals.Big spending club of the season, Manang Marshyangdi was also equally good but police proved to be better in terms of scoring. MMC scored 42 and conceded seven goals. However, MMC could not lift league trophy despite enrolling star players like Anil GurungAnil Gurung
Anil Gurung is a Nepali international football player who made headlines when he was selected for a trial for Chelsea reserve team and Woking F.C in England. Sahara Club, Nepal and Sahara Football Club, UK jointly initiated the trial-selection process...
, Santosh Sahukhala
Santosh Sahukhala
- Early life :Coming from a family which enjoyed soccer, nobody raised any eyebrows when he chose football over other sports as a child and the Madhyapur Football Club, which is near his house made it easier for him to spend hours horning his skills...
, Sandeep Rai, Nirajan Khadka.
However, Jawalakhel Youth was the club to have the most significant rise in the league. JYC, which finished last season in the seventh position among 12 teams, jumped to third place this time. After finishing 2039 BS league in the second position, this was the best result for the club. Meanwhile, JYC won fair play award and its credit goes to coach Kishor KC without doubt. The coach maintained the discipline in the team and made players work hard on the field.
New Road Team (NRT) and RCT maintained a good run in the league with average players while Bansbari Club gained the reputation of giant killer after defeating Three Star, RCT and Armed Police Force. But its reputation was later tarnished by match fixing rumors in the match against Machhindra Club.
Despite a shaky start, Army Club bounced back and stormed into the top eight. But, another departmental team APF could not come up with better result. The last season relegation battler signed a number of talented players for this season but finished only in the 12th position.
Relegated Koilapani Polestar, United Youth, Brigade Boys and last season´s wonder Machhindra could not do well in the season. Machhindra had finished sixth last season.
Coaches
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha proved to be best. However, JYC Coach Kishor KC, NRT Coach Raju Shakya, RCT Coach Madhu Karki, Bansbari Coach Hari Om Shrestha deserve praise as they handled the average teams well and finished on the mid-table.Meanwhile, four coaches left the team in the middle of the league tournament. MMC coach Bal Gopal Maharjan left the club after the arrival of Korean coach Lee-Tae Ho. MMC management was not happy with the performance of Maharjan.
Likewise, Army Club coach Dambar Singh Gurung left the club after two losses, three draws and two wins in the initital eight matches.
Machhindra Club coach Chhiring Lopsang quit the club blaming management interference while Koilapani coach Raju Pulami pulled out after the club´s poor performance.
Influential foreign players
Altogether 48 foreign players were featured in the league. All clubs except three departmental teams and Koilapani featured foreign players. Among foreign players, two were from India, two from Pakistan and one each from Japan and Korea. Others were Africans.African players like Gerard Mukonza (JYC), Eugene Gray (Baudhha FC), Dennis Ovko Ochieng (Bansbari), Aarone Blackie Cole (NRT), Ntolo Ngoumou (RCT) and Mohemmad Naved (Saraswati) were the best.
However, Himalayan Sherpa´s Castory D Mumbara and Allen Oryek could not fit the bill, which they had gained in the last season.
Financial crunch
Koilapani Polestar, the only club from outside valley in the league, nearly quit the tournament as it was hit by financial crunch.Even big spending clubs were seen surviving on donations from fans and locals. Except departmental teams, NRT, RCT and Friends, other clubs lack regular income source.
After the revelation of Koilapani´s plight, ANFA faced severe criticism for not having proper regulation about club management. The question over the financial and legal structure of a club to participate in the top flight tournament still remains unanswered.
Crowd
The league this season could not bring in large number of club supporters. Rumors of match fixing last season, ANFA mismanagement and three matches a day for more than three months were the resons behind the poor turnout.However, matches like MMC vs Three Star, MMC vs Police and Police vs Three Star pulled few thousands to the stadium.
Controversy over referee decision
Clubs management and coaches blamed the referee decisions for their losses. MMC President Tashi Ghale even threatened to quit National League if referees´ competence is not enhanced. RCT coach Madhu Karki also had demanded action against referees who made unwise decisions.
However, referee inspectors and ANFA official have urged clubs to inculcate the culture of accepting defeats.
Mismanagement
Some of the matches were played on grounds made swampy by incessant rains. Match between Three Star and Army was played on waterlogged Dasharath Stadium Ground. The matches played on the first week of July were played on the ground resembling a paddy field.In some matches, fans were found indulging in vandalism. Bauddha fans vandalized seats of the parapet after the club conceded a penalty goal against Three Star and the latter´s fans involved in the similar incident when Nepal Police beat them. Security personnel were found provoking Three Star fans during the match.
Nepal Police personnel mobilized for security were found clashing with Army Club supporters after the completion of their match.
However, ANFA could not do anything to control such acts except fining Baudhha FC and Three Star Club.
Tax Evasion
The league was also surrounded by demand by players and clubs to pay taxes as some figure payments and expenditure were mouthwatering for general people. The clubs reacted by saying the dire financial situations clubs have led the payments in tokens and not in monthly salaries. Also the foreign players were playing without the proper permission from Labour and Foreign Ministries. The ANFA defended itself by stating non-existence of such rules for athletes and football players.Final standings
| Champions; Qualification to 2012 AFC President's Cup 2012 AFC President's Cup The 2012 AFC President's Cup will be the eighth edition of the AFC President's Cup. It is a football competition for "emerging countries" by the Asian Football Confederation... and SAFF Club Championship |
| Relegated to Second Division at the end of season |
| Pos | Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nepal Police Club | 17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 54 | 7 | 44 | |
| 2 | Manang Marsyangdi Club Manang Marsyangdi Club Manang Marshyangdi Club is a Nepali professional football club based in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, known as MMC is one of the most popular sports club in Nepal, which plays in the town of Katmandu. They play in the Nepalese first division, the Nepal A- Division League.The club is one of the most... |
17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 7 | 44 | |
| 3 | Jawalakhel Youth Club | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 15 | 36 | |
| 4 | Three Star Club Three Star Club Three Star Club is a Nepali football club based in Patan, Lalitpur. They play in the Nepalese first division, the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League... |
17 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 12 | 34 | |
| 5 | Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 45 | 16 | 33 | |
| 6 | Ranipokhari Corner Team Ranipokhari Corner Team Ranipokhari Corner Team is a Nepalese football club from Ranipokhari, which plays in the town of Katmandu. They play in the Nepalese first division, the Nepal A- Division League... |
17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 23 | 33 | |
| 7 | New Road Team New Road Team New Road Team is a Nepalese sports club, most widely known for its soccer achievements. The club is located in Kathmandu. They play in the Nepalese first division, the Nepal A- Division League soccer. Besides soccer, the club is involved in cricket, billiard etc.-History:N.R.T. was established in... |
17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 15 | 32 | |
| 8 | Nepal Army Club | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 17 | 29 | |
| 9 | Friends Club Friends Club Friends Club is a Nepali football club, which plays in the town of Kathmandu.They are situated in Kupandole Lalitpur. This club is known for nurturing young talent of Nepalese Football.Friends Club has produced more than 200 national football players till date... |
17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 22 | 24 | |
| 10 | Mahindra Bansbari Club | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 21 |
| 11 | Boudha Football Club | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 27 | −9 | 20 |
| 12 | Nepal Armed Police Force APF Club The Armed Police Force Club, commonly known as the APF Club is a departmental armed police football club of Nepal. They currently play in the top division of the country.-History:... |
17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 26 | 18 | |
| 13 | Saraswoti Club | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 26 | 40 | −14 | 15 |
| 14 | Machhindra Football Club Machhindra Football Club Machhindra FC is a top flight Nepali football team from the central Kathmandu neighborhood of Keltole. The club finished in 6th place in the 2005/06 Martyrs League. Because of an internal dispute within the All Nepal Football Association, Nepal's league was canceled from 2007 to 2009... |
17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 14 |
| 15 | Swoyambhu Club | 17 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 27 | −18 | 11 |
| 16 | Brigade Boys Club Brigade Boys Club Brigade Boys Club is a Nepalese football club from Lalitpur, which plays in the town of Katmandu. They play in the Nepalese first division, the Nepal A- Division League.-External links:*... |
17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 41 | −32 | 10 |
| 17 | United Youth Club | 17 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 61 | −51 | 6 |
| 18 | Koilapani Polestar Club | 17 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 78 | −66 | 3 |