| Fresh Elections Solution To ANFA Wrangling
Though I hate to discuss Nepali football, gradually slipping into oblivion, the latest twist and turn happened to catch my attention. Commentary by Shushil Thapa.
Initially I tried to bypass the development but for some reasons had a change of mind and decided to jot down my take on the issue. Actually there are no valid and relevant issues to discuss or talk about except the stinking politics that has virtually stagnated football development. Sports enthusiasts are sick and tired of reading about it over and over. Such is their impression that they expect nothing positive happening.
To me the latest merger story is just another piece of crap. Apparently not everyone in Thapa's camp supported the move. Evidently upset over the merger Lok Bahadur Shahi, one of Thapa's backbones not only bid adieu to his boss but set up yet another All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). How many more ANFAs are we going to see, time will speak but definitely more are in the making.
In an effort to garner support Thapa quickly made his intentions clear. Underlining his objectives and programs he urged all parties to bury their differences and join hands to work for the overall development of football. Displaying flashes of his shrewdness and diplomacy, he had this to say ,"I have no hard feelings against my opponents. We need to work together for the game's interest." Can we believe him"? " Can we buy his words"? One definitely has the answers. As a matter of fact, we are so used to these rhetorics that we can no more take it. What counts more is action and not words.
The merger did receive significant support from a sizable segment of the football community, specially football clubs but it is to early to say whether the latest equation will pay off. As things stand now the crisis is far from over.Geeta Rana ANFA is very much alive and active, challenging the legality of the newly united ANFA backed by National Sports Council (NSC.) Though dissolved by NSC, ANFA (Rana) had the stay order from the court. The newest threat to Thapa comes from no other than the master technician Shahi.
Long before Thapa became part of ANFA, Shahi ran his own sport association with very little success and maintained a decent relation with most national players. His experiences over the years has made him a versatile manipulator. In order to neutralize every possible threat from Shahi, Thapa kept him under his wings giving him the all important position of general-secretary. Having worked along with Thapa all these years Shahi is capable of giving his former boss a run for his money because he knows what happened and what is happening in Thapa ANFA. How difficult it may be but he will do all he can to embarrass Thapa.
I won’t be surprised if he joins hands with Rana to launch a fresh wave of assault against Thapa . In one way or the other he is a pain in the ass Thapa. On the other hand, probably Thapa feels much comfortable at this juncture with the government, Asian Football Federation and World Governing Body behind him.
Long as Thapa continues to be challenged and opposed by various factions the crisis is bound to roll further. If Thapa truly cares for the interest of football he should immediately call for a fresh round of elections. Unlike previous elections it must be free and fair and observed by an independent group. More importantly, everyone should have the right to a fair elections.
Also no room should be left for critics to make a mockery of the elections later. Whoever comes up trumps ultimately becomes the sole official ANFA. Undoubtedly the ball is in Thapa's court and so is the future of Nepali football. Should he decide not to hold elections for fear of losing that will only make matters go from bad to worse.
Sushil Thapa, a sports writer, currently resides in the U.S.