According to the All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) Chief Executive Office (CEO) Indra Man Tuladhar Kailali were the last of the nine clubs to register their squad. “The five top-tier clubs had already completed the registration a couple of days earlier. The teams from outside the Kathmandu Valley too made it on time and things are going as scheduled,” said Tuladhar.

Tuladhar also informed that the home and away fixtures will be unveiled after club manager’s meeting on Tuesday. “We have the grounds ready for the League. Our technical committee has completed inspections of the ground and we will unveil the fixture by midweek,” said Tuladhar.

Apart from Kailali, others to register their squad at the football governing body on the deadline day include Jhapa, Morang and Rupandehi.

Kailali, meanwhile, won the bidding to secure the services of the entire 16-member Anfa Academy squad. Bidders for the Anfa Academy squad included Rupandehi, Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Three Star. “We had set aside two groups of U-17 players for bidding and The Far Western Club bought both the groups for a total sum of Rs 1.3 million,” informed Tuladhar.

Rupandehi and Kailali had made the bid for Group A with the starting price of Rs 5,00,000, stated by Anfa. Kailali ended up getting the team after Rupandehi pulled out at the last moment. Kailali overcame MMC and Three Star Club in the bidding of Group B players by playing Rs 8,00,000.  

The club registration for the National League opened on January 5. Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club, Nepal Armed Police Force Club, Three Star, MMC, Jhapa, Morang, Rupandehi and Kailali are in fray for the League that offers Rs 10 million for the champions. The League will be played on ‘home and away’ format.