4th NSL from Sept 5; matches to be played in home-away format

KATHMANDU: The fourth edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL) will kick off on September 5.

Nepal Sports and Event Management, the organizer of the franchise-based football league, formally announced the new edition amid a ceremony on Sunday.

According to the organizers, the NSL will now be played under a home-and-away system. All four editions of the league were played at a single venue.

Likewise, the organizers are also preparing to expand the number of teams to 10 or 12 in the upcoming season.

The first edition of the NSL featured seven teams – Kathmandu RayZrs, Dhangadhi FC, Lalitpur City FC, Pokhara Thunders, FC Chitwan, Butwal Lumbini FC, and Biratnagar City FC. Although the organizers added three new teams – Sporting Ilam De Mechi FC, Jhapa FC, and Birgunj United FC – in the second season, three teams Sporting Ilam, Biratnagar City, and Birgunj United did not participate in the third season.

Kathmandu RayZrs won the inaugural edition of the NSL, while Lalitpur City lifted the title in the past two editions.