ANFA Knockout Tournament: In a major development for Nepali football, nine A Division clubs have decided not to participate in the proposed ANFA Knockout Tournament, also known as the League-cum-Knockout tournament organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
ANFA Knockout Tournament Faces Pushback
The decision was made during a meeting held on Thursday, where representatives of nine A Division clubs concluded that the ANFA Knockout Tournament had insufficient preparation time and lacked a proper process. One club representative stated that the way the tournament was being planned made it unfeasible for them to participate.
Notably, departmental teams did not attend the meeting. However, representatives from Satdobato and Khumaltar, though absent, reportedly agreed with the decision to withdraw.
Tournament Plans in Jeopardy
ANFA had announced plans to include all 14 A Division clubs in the ANFA Knockout Tournament, scheduled to begin on Baisakh 20. According to ANFA, the idea for this tournament came with the clubs’ initial agreement. However, the recent withdrawal decision has put the entire event in uncertainty.
With the regular Martyr’s Memorial A Division League not taking place, ANFA had planned the tournament as a means to select a representative for the AFC club competitions.
Clubs Raise Cost and Time Concerns
Clubs participating in the Thursday meeting cited several reasons for pulling out:
- Inadequate preparation time
- Lack of proper procedural planning
- Higher costs compared to the league format
This disagreement has now cast serious doubts over the feasibility of the ANFA Knockout Tournament.
Stay tuned for updates on how ANFA plans to move forward.
