Johan Kalin of Sweden was officially named to succeed Gyotoku Koji of Japan as Nepali national football team coach on Thursday. 

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) executive committee meeting on Thursday made the hiring official. Kalin takes over the job which was vacant since ANFA severed the contract with Koji after the Japanese was embroiled in controversy of ‘over-staying’ in Nepal while leading the team in the Asian Games in Indonesia in August. The visa complication meant Koji did  not return to Nepal and ever since Bal Gopal Maharjan has been looking after the national team as interim coach. 

The Swedish coach, however, is not a new name in Nepal as he has led the ‘A’ Division outfits Machhindra Club to second-place finish in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League in 2013-14. He has been offered a two-year contract starting from March 1. 

Among the other decisions, ANFA relieved Tashi Ghale of the post of ANFA honorary president. Ghale was nominated after Karma Tsering Sherpa won the ANFA presidential elections on May 5 last year. Also the former ANFA vice president, Ghale had assumed the same post for a year before Sherpa won the elections. 

A close ally in the lead up to the election, Sherpa and Ghale were at loggerheads off late. On December 27 last year, anti-establishment faction of ANFA unveiled audio recordings of ‘irregularities’ involving conversation of top ANFA officials including general secretary Indraman Tuladhar, treasurer Rabindra Man Joshi, executive members Madhu Sudhan Upadhyaya and Dawa Gurung with Ghale. In the recordings they have spoken about financial dealings during the election. ANFA had suspected that the recordings were leaked by Ghale himself. 

ANFA spokesperson Kiran Rai declined to give reasons for relieving Ghale of his post. But many believe ANFA officials blame Ghale to have leaked the “confidential conversations” to the rivals. “I cannot give reasons for relieving him from his post but only thank him for his contribution at ANFA,” said Rai. 

ANFA has also decided to form main organising committee of SAFF Women’s Championship due to be held in Biratnagar from March 12 to 22 under Sherpa. Vice president Pankaj Nembang has been named as coordinator of the tournament preparation committee. The executive committee meeting also decided to probe on the allegations of “irregularities and misconduct” brought forward by four District Football Associations—Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Dhading and Lalitpur. ANFA secretariat has been assigned to probe on the allegations and tasked to recommend actions if necessary to the ANFA Disciplinary Committee.   

Among the other rulings, ANFA decided to reward member of national women’s team with Rs 50,000 each for making it to the second round of 2020 Olympic Qualifiers. The U-19 women’s football team’s member will be provided Rs 25,000 for their qualification to the second round of AFC U-19 Championship Qualifier. ANFA also decided to classify and regulate tournaments held across the country. 

Vice president Bir Bahadur Khadka has been appointed coordinator to draft and amend calendar for the year 2019-20. The committee has been assigned to present report at the next executive committee meeting. With the view to run district, provincial, franchise and national league systematically, the meeting has also decided to draft League Operation Act under coordination of Kiran Rai. Bijay Ghale and Sanjiv Mishra are the members of the committee.  

The football governing body has decided to reward former national team skipper Rakesh Shrestha with motivational amount of Rs 500,000 after the previous committee failed to provide him the apartment as promised.