Friends survive, Khumaltar relegated

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 10: Church Boys United celebrated their title win with a 2-0 win over bottom-placed FC Khumaltar in its last match at the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League on Friday.

Sushil Shah and Jospeh Owusu Bempah netted one goal apiece for the league champions.

The win helped the league champion extend its lead to six points in the standings. Second-placed Machhindra FC has 42 points with one match in hand. 

When Church Boys finished with a title victory in its debut in the first division, FC Khumaltar got relegated in its first appearance in top-flight football.

The defeat at the hand of Church Boys condemned Khumaltar to relegation. Khumaltar ended in the bottom of the league standings with 27 points from 27 matches. 

The match at ANFA Complex, however, was marred by a manhandling to the referee. 

The officials and players from the Khumaltar bench attacked the referee and assistant referee during the stoppage time of the first half. FIFA referee Prajwol Chhetri showed three red cards to Khumaltar officials and one to a bench player for breaching the disciplinary code.

Chhetri showed red cards to Khumaltar’s officials Buddhi Bahadur Gurung, Hari Bol Raut, and Anjan Rana Chhetri. Similarly, Khumaltar’s substitute player Manish Thapa also received a red card. Demanding security, the referees stopped the match for 30 minutes. 

Church Boys was one man down after goalie Guillaume Yves Priso faced a red card in the 48th minute.

Policemen seal third place

Nepal Police Club sealed third place at the top flight football after registering a 1-0 win over Satdobato Youth Club in their last match held at Chyasal Stadium, Lalitpur.

Police Club made a happy ending in the double round-robin league after securing third place with 41 points. 

The departmental club was struggling at the relegation zone during the end of the first round (13) but the Police made a brilliant comeback after recruiting four foreign players- Serge Dicka, Moses Gyabaah Twum, Ahmad Hijazi, and Muhammed Ashiq Shoukathali.

Hijazi scored the match-winning goal in the 21st minute to remain unbeaten against Satdobato. The first-round match between Police and Satdobato ended in a goalless draw. Satdobato remained in fifth place with 35 points.

Rai, Silwal retires

Meanwhile, Former national players Jumanu Rai and Bhola Nath Silwal announced their retirement from domestic football after Police ended the season in third place.

Both striker Rai and Midfielder Silwal were the key players while Police won the league titles during 2063, 066/67, and 2068 BS.

Coach Chetan Ghimire sent Rai and Silwal in the 90th minute today. Rai replaced Buddha Tamang and Silawal replaced Serge Dicka in their last match of the domestic football.

Both Rai and Silwal were also key players of the Nepali national football team. The 39-year-old Rai joined Police in 2002 and the 36-year-old Silwal joined Police in 2005. 

Friends survive

Friends Club thrashed APF Football Club 4-0 at Dashrath Stadium to escape relegation and continue its stay in the top-tier league.

With a huge margin victory, Friends successfully secured their top-tier status moving to the 11th spot with 30 points from 26 matches.

The APF is still at risk of relegation as they dropped to 12th position with 30 points. APF’s status will be decided on Saturday after the match between Jawalakhel Youth Club and Three Star Club. If the relegation favourite Three Star succeeds to beat Jawalakhel, APF will be relegated to the second division.

Torric Jebrin, Bikash Thapa, Rafiq Aminu, and substitute Akhrorbek Uktamov scored one goal apiece in a do-or-die battle of Friends.

Friends remained unbeaten against APF in the league. Earlier, they played to a 1-1 draw in their first match of the league.

Likewise, Tribhuvan Army FC climbed to the sixth spot with a 1-0 win over Himalayan Sherpa Club at Dasharath Stadium on Friday evening.

A lone goal from Sudil Rai in the sixth minute was enough for Army to secure a victory. The win amassed the Army 34 points. Himalayan Sherpa remained in tenth place with 31 points. 

Deepak Gurung of the Army also announced his retirement from domestic football at the end of the match. Gurung captained Army to the second position in the last season.