Himal Press 
File Photo
KATHMANDU: Ten out of the 14 ‘A’ Division clubs have decided not to release their players for the national team immediately.
The clubs took the decision after national team Head Coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese called up 30 players for a closed camp training to prepare for the SAFF Championship.
Representatives from the ‘A’ Division clubs, excluding Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club, Nepal APF Club, and Jawalakhel Youth Club, gathered at the office of Friends Club in Kupandole on Thursday and took the decision. They also decided that players will wear black armbands until the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) releases league preparation funds as per the commitment as well as the match money to the clubs.
The clubs earlier organized a press meeting stating that ANFA had only released the first installment of the preparation funds. ANFA had agreed to provide Rs 1.5 million to each club in the first installment, followed by Rs 1 million in the second and Rs 750,000 in the final installment.
Additionally, the clubs have said that ANFA has ceased releasing match money after the fifth round. ANFA has made an announcement to provide Rs 50,000 for the winner of each match and Rs 10,000 for the man of the match. The amount is split among teams in case of a draw.
The clubs’ reluctance to release players until the league is over is certain to affect Nepal’s preparation for the SAFF Championship. The SAFF Championship kicks off in Bangalore, India, on June 6. The national league will continue until May 27.
Players called up for the closed camp:
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu (Punjab FC), Deep Karki (Manang Masryangdi), Bishal Shrestha (Machindra FC)
Defenders: Bimal Pandey (Tribhuvan Army Club), Sanis Shrestha (Nepal APF Club), Ananta Tamang (Church Boys United), Devendra Tamang (Machindra FC), Nishant Khadka (Sankata Club), Ashish Gurung (Manang Masryangdi), Bikram Lama (Three Star Club), Rohit Chand (Persik Kedri), Simant Thapa (Jawlakhel Youth Club), Angel Maharjan (Friends Club)
Midfielders: Pujan Uparkoti (Machindra FC), Eric Bista (Church Boys United), Naveen Lama (Nepal APF Club), Mani Kumar Lama (Npeal APF Club), Sudeep Gurung (Satdobato Youth Club), Laken Limbu (Three Star Club), Abhash Lamichhane (Nepal APF Club), Bishal Tamang (Jawlakhel Youth Club)
Forwards: Ayush Ghalan (Sankata Club), Navayug Shrestha Tribhuvan (Tribhuvan Army Club), Deepak Raj Singh Thakuri (Satdobato Youth Club), Anjan Bista (Church Boys United), Manish Dangi (Sankata Club), Ashish Chaudhary (Church Boys United). Bimal Gharti Magar (Machindra FC), Gillespie Jung Karki (Tribhuvan Army Club), Dinesh Henjan (Tribhuvan Army Club)
