Ananta Tamang Could Make History Again

If Lalitpur City FC wins the Nepal Super League (NSL) final on Saturday, captain Ananta Tamang will make history. He also led Lalitpur to win the second season of the NSL. Before that, he had won the ‘A’ Division League with Church Boys. It seems like this Nepali defender has a winning formula.

But Ananta says, “There is no secret formula. It’s not about one player. The most important thing is team unity and good management.”

Many believe Lalitpur has the best team management in NSL. On paper, as defending champions, Lalitpur looks stronger. But coach Simon Grayson says, “The best team doesn’t always win in football. What matters is giving your best. Pokhara is a strong team, too. The final will be competitive and tough for both sides.”

This year’s NSL is lucky to have two of the best teams—Lalitpur and Pokhara—in the final.

Lalitpur has a chance to win the league without losing a single game, known as an “invisible” win in football. They have played 10 matches unbeaten and beat Dhangadhi FC in the first qualifier to reach the final.

Pokhara Thunders: Strong Comeback

Pokhara Thunders are also in great form. After losing their first two matches, they bounced back strongly. “We are improving every step,” says Pokhara’s coach Suman Shrestha. They are unbeaten in their last 6 games and have only conceded one goal, through a free kick. They haven’t let in a goal from open play for 565 minutes. The last team to beat Pokhara was Lalitpur, which helped Pokhara improve even more.

After beating FC Chitwan in the eliminator, coach Shrestha confidently said, “Now our goal is the title.”

Pokhara also beat Dhangadhi FC in the second qualifier. Unlike Lalitpur, Pokhara had issues with team ownership before the season began. But their new owners and management have done a great job, and the team’s performance has been impressive.

Still, coach Shrestha knows the final won’t be easy. The winner will get NPR 8 million, and the runner-up will get NPR 3 million.

Small Advantage for Lalitpur

Both teams are evenly matched. The foreign players are expected to perform well on both sides. Lalitpur has a small advantage: defender Manikumar Lama, who got a red card in the first qualifier, is now allowed to play in the final. Referee Umesh Bidari’s decision was reversed later. Some say the decision was fair, others disagree. This will likely remain a topic of debate.

Lalitpur is happy with the decision, but others may not be. Should referee mistakes on the field be corrected from outside? If yes, will it apply to other cases too? This will be discussed more in the future.

Lalitpur’s captain, Ananta, and coach Grayson both support the decision. Coach Shrestha of Pokhara didn’t give a clear opinion and seemed unsure.

Coach Shrestha: A Hero of This Season

If anyone stands out this season, it’s Suman Shrestha. He’s not new to Nepali football. From Dhankuta, he has come a long way in his coaching journey. He once dreamed of coaching an NSL team while living outside Kathmandu. Now his team has reached the final. Under the captaincy of Navyug Shrestha, Pokhara Thunders are fully motivated to win the title, for their coach as well.