Nepal National League

The National League (or 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). It 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.

Nepal National League
Founded2011–12
CountryNepal
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams9
Level on pyramid1
International cup(s)AFC Presidents Cup (formerly)
AFC Cup (2016-) SAFF Club Championship
Current championsThree Star Club (1st title)
(2015)
Most championshipsNepal Police Club
Three Star Club
(1 title)
TV partnersKantipur TV
Websitethe-anfa.com

The 2015 season of the League was heavily affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, with play being suspended for several months. After the end of the season, 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]

Format

Matches of the National Leagues were based on round robin format. National League 'A' have the participation of 9 teams, including the top five teams of the current Martyr's Memorial A-Division League and four teams from a separate ´A´ Division League held in the districts. Thirty-seven districts besides the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley is divided into three groups considering the physical infrastructure and football activities. 10 districts are recognized as ´A´ Division, 12 as ´B´ Division and the remaining 15 as ´C´ Division.

The 10 ´A´ Divisions of the districts are further divided into two groups of five teams in the Eastern Region and the Western Region respectively. The finalists of each region will be eligible to compete in the National League A. During the qualifiers, the team that finishes at the bottom are relegated to the ´B´ Division. In the case of the Kathmandu Valley, the present 18 ´A´ Division clubs play a separate league and the top 5 are get change to play in National League A. The remaining clubs will stay in the Martyr's Memorial A Division. There are plans to hold the Super League´s 50 percent matches in Kathmandu and the rest in the districts.

National League A Division

Four district teams (A categorized Districts) and five teams from Martyr's Memorial A-Division League participated in the league. 'A' Categorized Districts were Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa, Kaski, Rupandehi, Banke, and Kailali.

Clubs

Current clubs
Club Location First season
Three Star Club Lalitpur 2011–12
Manang Marshyangdi Club Kathmandu
Nepal Police Club
Tribhuwan Army Club
APF Club 2015
Far Western FC Dhangadhi, Kailali
Jhapa XI Birtamod, Jhapa
Lumbini F.C. Butwal, Rupandehi
Morang XI Biratnagar, Morang

Former clubs
Club Location Season
Himalayan Sherpa Club Kathmandu 2011–12
New Road Team
Ranipokhari Corner Team
Jawalakhel Youth Club Lalitpur
Mitra Milan Club Dharan, Sunsari
Sangam Club Pokhara, Kaski

Champions
Season Champions
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 Stage Did 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.[2]


Lower Leagues

Nepal National League also covered lower level leagues:

B Division

Two district teams (B Categorized Districts) and four teams from Martyr's Memorial B-Division League to compete in one venue. 'B' Categorized Districts are Dhankuta, Ilam, Siraha, Rautahat, Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Dhanusha, Nawalparasi, Tanahu, Kanchanpur, Surkhet, Syangja.

C Division

Two district teams (C categorized Districts) and four teams from Martyr's Memorial C-Division League to compete in Super C Division league (Round Robin) 'C' Categorized Districts are Panchthar, Sarlahi, Bara, Saptari, Baglung, Mahottari, Nuwakot, Dhading, Bardiya, Dolakha, Dang, Gorkha, Lamjung, Palpa, Udayapur.[3]

The running of 'B' and 'C' Division Leagues was proposed in order to empower the district associations. At present, six out of 15 ´B´ Division clubs and two from the districts will compete in the National League ´B´.[4][5][6]

See also

References
  1. "League to resume in September". The Kathmandu Post. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "ANFA negligence deprives Three Star from AFC Asia Cup". myRepublica. 8 December 2016.
  3. "GoalNepal.com - A Complete Nepali Football website". www.goalnepal.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-26. Retrieved 2011-07-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-07-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-07-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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