ANFA President Sherpa files nomination for re-election

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, May 24: The presidential election of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) het up as three candidates joined the fray for the top post of the nation’s football governing body.

Seeking the next term on ANFA executive committee, President Karma Tsering Sherpa joined the election race after filing his nomination on Monday at ANFA election Office at Satdobato. The election of ANFA is set to be held on June 20.

Sherpa won the ANFA election with an overwhelming majority against Mani Kunwar in 2018. 

His bid for the presidency was proposed by Machhindra Football Club's president Sunil Kapali and seconded by Rupandehi District Football Association's Lok Bahadur Pun.

For the ANFA leadership, Senior Vice President Pankaj Nembang has already filed his nomination. Former President of Friends Club, Rajiv Raj Paudel also announced his candidacy for the presidential race of ANFA today. 

Meantime, Sherpa's panel also filed their nomination today.

Shixit Parajuli has filed his nomination for senior vice president while Upendra Man Singh, Bigyan Raj Sharma, Dirgha Bahadur KC and Ratna Kumar Shrestha are vying for vice president.

Similarly, Dipak Thapa, Prabin Yadav, Rupesh Adhikari, Lokendra Gurung, Ramraja Gurung, Tikaram Lama, Pradesh Singh Rathour, Bharat Buda Thapa, Anil Shrestha, Ramesh Byanjankar, Maniraj Bista and Manish Joshi filed their nomination for members.

Sherpa said he sought the next term to complete the football development work started under his leadership.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, my leadership carried out the footballing activities. I will do my best to fulfil the commitments promised four years ago. We failed to accomplish our planning as the pandemic halted many programmes. Besides, a disgruntled faction led by Senior Vice President Pankaj Nembang also disturbed me from working,” said Sherpa addressing to press.

He also presented his work progress during his reign at ANFA and his manifesto for the election.

Likewise, former boss of Friends Club Paudel said his candidacy was for the good governance at ANFA. “Leaders with the same attitude have been ruling the ANFA for a long time. So my candidacy is for the good governance.”  

Paudel, the head of the ANFA Marketing and Education Committee, is yet to file his nomination at Anfa Election Office. He also has experience working at AFC as Marketing Committee member.