The player auction for the third edition of the franchise football tournament, Nepal Super League (NSL), is scheduled to take place on February 22 (Fagun 10).
The organizer, Nepal Sports and Event Management (NSEM), confirmed the auction date through a press release on Thursday.
Seven Teams to Compete in NSL Season 3
A total of seven teams will participate in the third edition of NSL. In the first season, seven teams competed, while the second season saw an increase to nine teams. However, for the third edition, the number has been reduced back to seven teams.
Notably, Sporting Ilam and Birgunj United, who played in the second edition, will not be participating in Season 3.
New Auction Format Introduced
The organizers have announced that the auction will follow a different format this time. Players will be divided into Category A and B for the auction.
Additionally, Category C players will be selected through a draft system. The main objective of this new system is to provide opportunities for players at every level.
The official player list for the auction has also been published, with players categorized into A, B, and C groups.
Player Retention System Introduced
NSEM’s MC Shreyansh Karki stated that this auction will be a great opportunity for both experienced and new players. For the first time, the organizers have introduced a player retention system, allowing each team to retain 2-3 players from different categories.
Team Composition Breakdown
Each team will have 22-23 players, categorized as follows:
- 1 marquee player
- 2-3 players from Category A (including 1 retained player)
- 6 players from Category B
- 4 players from Category C
- 1 player from Category D
- 1 rookie player
- 6 foreign/iconic players, with at least 1 player from Asia
- 1 NRN (Non-Resident Nepali) player
Teams to Announce Marquee Players & Retained Players
Following the auction date announcement, all teams must finalize their marquee players and retained players before the auction.
Karki mentioned, “All teams must complete their player retention before the auction. In the coming days, player retention and marquee player announcements will take place.”
Teams Finalizing Coaches
Some teams have already announced their head coaches. Jhapa FC, Lalitpur City FC, and FC Chitwan have appointed their coaches, while Kathmandu Razors, Pokhara Thunders, Dhangadhi FC, and Butwal Lumbini FC are yet to announce theirs.
NSL Season 3 to Kick Off on March 29
The third season of the NSL is set to begin on March 29 (Chaitra 16).
