The 2015 Nepal National League, also known as the RedBull National League for sponsorship reasons, was the 2nd edition of Nepal National League. The winners Three Star Club received 1 Crore or 10 million rupees ($149,278 USD).
Red Bull energy drink was the main sponsor. San Miguel Beer was also a co-sponsor of the competition.
The league featured 9 teams from Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal.
The league was heavily affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, with play being suspended from late April, resuming in September.
Teams A total of 9 teams featured in the league. The teams are Nepal Police Club, Nepal Army Club, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Nepal APF, Three Star Club, Far Western FC, Morang XI, Lumbini FC, and Jhapa XI. Machhindra Football Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Saraswoti Youth Club and Friends Club became unable to take part due to the ban by ANFA Makwanpur DFA were supposed to take part in the league but where disqualified for not filling out the required entries, while Sankata Boys Sports Club had earlier pulled out.
Stadia and locations
Club Location Stadiums APF Club Kathmandu Dasarath Rangasala Stadium1 ANFA Complex Far Western FC Kailali Dhangadhi Stadium ANFA Complex2 Jhapa XI Jhapa Doma Lal Rajbanshi Stadium Lumbini FC Rupandehi ANFA Technical Centre ANFA Complex2 Manang Marshyangdi Club Kathmandu Dasarath Rangasala Stadium1 ANFA Complex Morang XI Morang Sahid Rangsala Nepal Army Club Kathmandu Dasarath Rangasala Stadium1 ANFA Complex Nepal Police Club Kathmandu Dasarath Rangasala Stadium1 ANFA Complex Three Star Club Lalitpur Dasarath Rangasala Stadium1 ANFA Complex
Remarks: 1 Dasarath Rangasala Stadium was heavily damaged due to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. 2 Matches shifted to ANFA Complex due to violent protests in the region.
Personnel and sponsoring Team Coach Captain Shirt sponsorNepal Police ClubBirat Krishna ShresthaJu Manu Rai Nepal TelecomNepal Army Club Megraj KC Raju TamangSamsung NepalManang Marshyangdi Club Raju Kaji Shakya Anil Gurung Laxmi HyundaiAPF ClubKrishna Thapa Ganesh Lawati Agni Inc. MahindraThree Star Club Rajendra Tamang Santosh Sahukhala Ruslan VodkaFar Western FC Kiran Shrestha Birendra Chand Sudur BiscuitsMorang XI Kumar Pradhan (caretaker) Komal Khawas Buddha AirLumbini F.C. Yam Gurung Dilip Chettri Jagadamba CementJhapa XI Bhagirath Ale Prabesh Katwal Rum Pum
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentThree Star Club Anjan KCMutual consent13 September 20155th Rajendra Tamang13 September 2015Morang XI Paras ChaudharyBanned25 September 20159th Kumar Pradhan (caretaker)25 September 2015
League table
Results
Matches Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
League resumption
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Season statistics Top goalscorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Nawayug Shrestha Nepal Army Club142 Karna LimbuJhapa XI133 Ganesh LawatiAPF Club104 Santosh Sahukhala Three Star Club8 Tek Bahadur BudathokiNepal Army Club5 Olawale AfeezThree Star Club76 Anil Gurung Manang Marshyangdi Club6 Cedric AbaFar Western FC Jagjit ShresthaThree Star Club Ranjan BistaAPF Club7 Bharat Khawas Nepal Army Club5 Binod Karki Nepal Police Club Tanka Basnet Nepal Army Club8 Bimal Gharti Magar Far Western FC4 Ju Manu Rai Nepal Police Club910 players31019 players21134 players1
Hat-tricks PlayerClubAgainst ResultDate Karna LimbuJhapa XILumbini FC 1–3 Cedric AbaFar Western FCLumbini FC 4–0 Nawayug ShresthaNepal Army ClubNepal Police Club 3–0 Binod KarkiNepal Police ClubLumbini FC 1–4 Santosh SahukhalaThree Star Club Morang XI 1–4 Ganesh LawatiAPF Club Morang XI 1–4 Nawayug ShresthaNepal Army ClubMorang XI 7–0 Ganesh LawatiAPF Club Lumbini FC 5–1 Rawi PaswanManang Marshyangdi Club Morang XI 7–1
Own Goals PlayerClubAgainstDate Rupesh Tamang Morang XI Three Star Club Ritesh ThapaNepal Police Club Lumbini FC
Awards
All Nepal Football Association awarded the following awards for the National League season. Best goalkeeper : Kiran Chemjong (Three Star Club) Best defender : Devendra Tamang (Jhapa XI) Best midfielder : Bishal Rai (Manang Marshyangdi Club) Best forward : Nawayug Shrestha (Nepal Army Club) Best coach : Rajendra Tamang (Three Star Club)
Controversy The conditions of many stadiums has been heavily criticized as many; including the national stadium, are in poor condition.
Some Jhapa XI fans were left feeling aggrieved after the venue was moved from Chandragadhi, where there was a well maintained stadium to the Domalal Stadium in Birtamod, which is smaller but in a more central location.
It was initially decided that matches would only be played on weekends so teams had adequate rest time and venues wouldn't be overused, but the ANFA decided to revert this decision and schedule matches one after the other, which vexed many team officials and supporters. Nepal Army Club coach Megraj KC publicly criticized the cramped schedules saying that they would hurt team performances.
Jhapa XI were unable to train on a proper pitch before an away match against Nepal Police Club on 3 April. Instead of being allowed to train in the Police Club's Dasarath Stadium they were instead made to train on the Tudhikhel grounds, whose surface is composed of sand and rocks not grass and is not a proper football pitch. Jhapa coach Bhagirath Ale publicly criticized the ANFA for refusing to grant them permission to train at the national stadium, although he stated that the improper practice session would not have an effect on Jhapa's performance against the police club.
Effects of the April earthquake and subsequent May aftershock on league play
Following the 25 April the National League was immediately suspended by the ANFA as the Country was in a State of emergency. Many of the venues were damaged. The Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, which was already in poor shape and in need of repair before the earthquake was rendered completely unplayable as it sustained severe damaged to the stands, grounds, and many of the walls surrounding the stadium collapsed. Following the quake and subsequent aftershock the vast majority of players and staff of the respective teams took time off to help, Bikram Lama spent time delivery relief supplies in Sindhupalchowk for example, and many charitable matches and tournaments were also held to raise awareness and money.
On 8 July the ANFA announced that the National League would resume in mid September.
Prizes The winning club will receive 1 Crore while the runners up 50 Lakhs and the third place team is set to receive 25 Lakhs. The fourth placed will get 15Lakhs and 5th place will get 7 Lakhs Coaches and players who are the recipients of individual awards will each be gifted a motorbike.
References