Nepal National League

Last updated
Nepal National League
Nepal National League Logo.jpg
Founded2011–12
CountryNepal
Confederation AFC
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Current champions Three Star Club (1st title)
(2015)
Most championships Nepal Police Club
Three Star Club
(1 title)
TV partners Kantipur TV
Website the-anfa.com

The National League (also known as Red Bull National League) was a club-level association football competition in Nepal. The champions secured qualification to a continental cup, previously the AFC President's Cup (now AFC Cup). The franchise-based Nepal Super League took place for two seasons, in 2011–12 and 2015. In other years the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League was and still is the highest level league in Nepal.

Contents

Due to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, the 2015 season was halted for several months, as professional level football was paused in Nepal due to the earthquake's aftermath, until the next season of the 2018–19 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. [1]

History

The first season of National League was played in a single round-robin format in the first season in a single venue. The top eight teams from the 2011 A-Division League were joined by two invitational teams from outside the Kathmandu Valley. A-Division champions Nepal Police Club won the league undefeated and became the inaugural National League champions. [2]

The second season was played after a hiatus of three years in a double round-robin format with teams playing home and away. The top 10 teams from the 2013-14 A-Division League were joined by four teams from outside the Kathmandu Valley. Sankata BSC pulled out of the tournament and Machhindra, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Saraswati Youth Club and Friends Club were banned by ANFA and the league was played by nine teams. The 2015 season of the League was heavily affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, with play being suspended for several months. [3] Three Star Club won the league winning their first National League title. [4]

The third season of the National League was scheduled to be played in April 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top six teams from the 2019-20 A-Division League will be joined by the top four teams from the ANFA President's League in the ten team league. [5] [6]

Clubs

Current clubs

ClubLocationQualification
Dhambojhi Sports Club Banke, Lumbini 2nd in President's League [7]
Manakamana Youth Club Rautahat, Madhesh 3rd in President's League [7]
Star City Youth Club Kailali, Sudurpaschim 1st in President's League [7]
Triveni Youth Club Lamjung, Gandaki 4th in President's League [7]
Machhindra F.C. Kathmandu, Bagmati 1st in A-Division League
Manang Marshyangdi Club 3rd in A-Division League
Nepal Police Club 5th in A-Division League
Tribhuwan Army F.C. 2nd in A-Division League
Jawalakhel Youth Club Lalitpur, Bagmati 6th in A-Division League
Three Star Club 4th in A-Division League

Former clubs

ClubLocationSeason(s)
APF Club Kathmandu 2015
Himalayan Sherpa Club 2011–12
New Road Team
Ranipokhari Corner Team
Jawalakhel Youth Club Lalitpur
Mitra Milan Club Dharan, Sunsari 2011–12
Sangam Club Pokhara, Kaski
Far Western FC Dhangadhi, Kailali 2015
Jhapa XI Birtamod, Jhapa
Lumbini F.C. Butwal, Rupandehi
Morang XI Biratnagar, Morang

Champions

SeasonChampions
2011–12 Nepal Police Club
2015 Three Star Club

National League clubs in Asia

Season AFC President's Cup Position AFC Cup Position
2012 Nepal Police Club 3rd in Group StageDid not qualify
2017 Competition disbanded Three Star Club 1st in Qualifying Round [a]

1 The All Nepal Football Association failed to register Three Star Club by the competition deadline for the qualifying play-offs. [8]

Lower levels

Second Tier

In its initial season, Nepal National League also hosted a second division, 2012 B-Division National League made up with the 2011 Martyr's Memorial B-Division Leagues top six teams and two teams that qualified through a separate qualification tournament. [9] [10]

Third Tier

In its initial season, Nepal National League also hosted a third division, 2012 C-Division National League made up with the 2011 Martyr's Memorial C-Division Leagues top four teams and two teams that qualified through a separate qualification tournament. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martyr's Memorial A-Division League</span> Top division mens association football league in Nepal

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League is the top tier of football in Nepal. Contested by 12 to 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with each team playing every other team twice. It is officially known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sankata Boys S.C.</span> Nepali Football Team

Sankata Boys Sports Club, commonly known as Sankata Club, is a Nepalese professional football club based in Kathmandu, that competes in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. Named after Sankata Temple at Te Bahal, Kathmandu, the club has won the national championship three times, most recently in 1985.

New Road Team Football Club (NRT FC) (Nepali: न्यु रोड टिम; better known by its abbreviation NRT Football Club) is a Nepalese multi-sports club, widely known for its football achievements. The club is based in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. They compete in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manang Marshyangdi Club</span> Football club

Manang Marshyangdi Club is a Nepali professional football club based in Kathmandu, that competes in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. The club has won the National Championship title a record 8 times. Historically, they have had a fierce rivalry in domestic Nepalese football with Three Star Club and Nepal Police Club, a departmental team. Their other rivals include New Road Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Star Club</span> Football club

Three Star Club is a Nepali professional football club based in Lalitpur. The club was formed under the presidency of Dinker Govinda Amatya in 2031 BS (1974). Lt. Krishna Charan Mishra, Lt. Kedar Lal Khosin, Rajkaji Lakhey, Motikaji Bajracharya and Lt. Mehbooh Khan are the founding members. The club has been recognizable as one of the leading football teams in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machhindra F.C.</span> Football club

Machhindra FC is a Nepali professional football club based in the central Kathmandu neighborhood of Keltole, playing in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

Martyr's Memorial 'B' Division League is the second tier of the association football league of Nepal football league system after the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. It was established in 2003 and is run by the All Nepal Football Association. It is currently being held at the ANFA Complex.

The 2011 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 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.

The 2011 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League season, also known as Martyrs Memorial RedBull 'B' Division League Football Tournament 2068 for sponsorship reasons, was the 2011 edition of the second-tier club football competition in Nepal. The season started on 24 August and ended on 27 September 2011. All matches were played at Nepal Police Foundation Ground.

Martyr's Memorial C-Division League is the third tier association football league of Nepali football league system after the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League and the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. It is run by the All Nepal Football Association.

Biraj Maharjan is a professional footballer from Nepal. He made his first appearance for the Nepal national football team in 2008.

The 2013–14 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League season, also known as the Martyrs' Memorial Red Bull 'A' Division League Football Tournament 2013–14 for sponsorship reasons, was the 41st edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954/55. A total of 13 teams competed in the league. The season began on 30 December 2013 and concluded on 1 March 2014.

The 2013 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League season, also known as the RedBull Martyr's Memorial B-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 2013 season of the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. A total of 13 teams competed in the league. The season began on 4 March 2014 and concluded on 24 April 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himalayan Sherpa Club</span> Football club

Himalayan Sherpa Club is a Nepali professional football club based in Kathmandu, that competes in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, the top flight of Nepali football. They play their home games at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium.

Saraswoti Youth Club is a Nepali football club from the Koteshwor neighborhood of Kathmandu that currently competes in the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. They have also played in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League in several seasons. They play at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, which has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.

The 2016 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League season, also known as the RedBull Martyr's Memorial B-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 2016 edition of the second-tier club football competition in Nepal. The season began on 21 August 2016 and concluded on 5 October 2016. It was the first B division league held since 2014 due to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. All matches were played at Halchowk Stadium and the ANFA Complex.

The 2018–19 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League season, also known as Pulsar Martyr's Memorial A-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 42nd edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954-55. A total of 16 teams competed in the league. The season began on 29 September 2018 and concluded on 8 January 2019. It was the first top-division league held in the country since the 2015 National League due to aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. On 16 September 2018, it was decided that there will be no relegation, however the two bottom-placed teams would have two and one points deducted, respectively, in the following season.

The 2019–20 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League season, also known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 43rd edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954-55. A total of 18 teams competed in this edition of the league, which began on 14 December 2019 and concluded on 15 February 2020.

The 2021–22 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, also known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 44th edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954-55. A total of 14 teams competed in the league.

The 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League was the 45th edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954–55. A total of 14 teams competed in the league.

References

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  3. "National League to resume from Sept 4". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  4. Khabar, Glocal (2015-10-17). "Three Star crowned Champions!". Glocal Khabar. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  5. Sureis (2019-06-01). "ANFA unveils 10-team National League". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  6. "ANFA | ANFA President League begins in Nepalgunj". the-anfa.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  7. 1 2 3 4 न्यूज, नेपालगन्ज (2021-03-26). "कसरी भयो स्टार सिटी एक खेल अगावै च्याम्पियन ?". Nepalgunj News. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  8. "ANFA negligence deprives Three Star from AFC Asia Cup". myRepublica. 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. "Red Bull B Division National League 2012". Goal Nepal. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016.
  10. "Red Bull B Division National League to start from March 26". Goal Nepal. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
  11. "Red Bull C Division National League 2012". Goal Nepal. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016.