2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
The 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए डिभिजन लिग २०७९) is the 45th edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954–55. A total of 14 teams are competing in the league.
Season | 2023 |
---|---|
Dates | 3 March – 10 June |
Champions | Church Boys United |
Relegated | Nepal APF F.C. FC Khumaltar |
AFC Cup | Machhindra[1] |
Matches played | 182 |
Goals scored | 437 (2.4 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals) |
Biggest win | Friends Club 6-0 FC Himalayan Sherpa (17 April 2023) |
Highest scoring | 10 Goals Machhindra 7–3 FC Khumaltar (11 April 2023) |
Longest winning run | 5 matches Nepal Police Club |
Longest unbeaten run | 10 matches Church Boys United |
Longest winless run | 14 matches Three Star Club |
Longest losing run | 6 matches Manang Marshyangdi Club |
← 2021–22 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 10 June 2023. |
Machhindra F.C. were the defending champions. The league was scheduled to begin on 10 January 2023 but was pushed back to begin on 3 March 2023 due to a conflict between the All Nepal Football Association and the clubs regarding up-front payments.[2][3]
On 6 June 2023, Church Boys United were crowned as league winners for the first time in club history in what the Kathmandu Post called a "fairytale run," resulting in the team winning the title for three consecutive seasons after being promoted in the two years prior respectively.[4] However, as the champions could not secure AFC club licensing, the second-placed team Machhindra F.C. was qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Cup preliminary round 1.[5]
The season would also be the first time that one of Nepal's three departmental clubs consisting of outfits of the Army, the Police and the Armed Police Force would be relegated with the last team coming second to last and being relegated to the 2023 B-Division League.[6]
Participating teams
The following 14 teams competed in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League in the 2022–23 season, with 12 teams from the previous season and Church Boys United and FC Khumaltar promoted from the 2022 B-Division League.
Location
Team | Location | Previous Season |
---|---|---|
Church Boys United | Kathmandu | 1st (2022 B-Division) |
Himalayan Sherpa Club | 10th | |
Machhindra F.C. | 1st | |
New Road Team | 3rd | |
Sankata BSC | 7th | |
Tribhuwan Army F.C. | 2nd | |
Nepal APF FC | 8th | |
Nepal Police Club | 11th | |
Friends Club | Lalitpur | 12th |
Jawalakhel YC | 9th | |
FC Khumaltar | 2nd (2022 B-Division) | |
Satdobato Youth Club | 4th | |
Three Star Club | 6th | |
Manang Marshyangdi Club | Kathmandu[lower-alpha 1] | 5th |
- Manang Marshyangdi Club has its origins in Pokhara, for which it hosted selsected home matches at Pokhara Rangasala. However, officially, the club is based in Swayambhu, Kathmandu.[7]
Personnel and kits
Team | Coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Church Boys United | Bal Gopal Maharjan | Ananta Tamang | Anee Sports | API Power Company Limited |
Friends Club | Urjan Shrestha | Prakash Budhathoki | Ucan | |
Himalayan Sherpa Club | Suman Shrestha | Bishwas Shrestha | KTM CTY | |
Jawalakhel YC | Sunil Kumar Shrestha[8] | Simanta Thapa | Jersey Pasal Nepal[9] | |
FC Khumaltar | Yam Gurung | Rejin Subba | Standard Fashion | Vianet Communication |
Machhindra F.C. | Kishor Kumar KC | Sujal Shrestha | Kelme | Pepe Pizza |
Manang Marshyangdi Club | Bishnu Gurung[10] | Deep Karki[11] | KTM CTY | |
Nepal APF F.C. | Ratna Kaji Maharjan | Top Bahadur Bista | Kelme | |
Nepal Police Club | Chetan Ghimire | Ram Chandra Waji | Kelme | |
New Road Team | Raju Kaji Shakya | Bikram Dhimal | Kelme | Shikhar Insurance |
Sankata BSC | Salyan Khadgi | Sunil Bal | Ucan | |
Satdobato Youth Club | Sanoj Shrestha | Sudip Gurung | Li-Ning | Royal Blue |
Tribhuvan Army F.C. | Nabin Neupane | Bharat Khawas | Kelme | |
Three Star Club | Meghraj K.C. | Bikram Lama | Euro Passion USA |
Foreign players
All Nepal Football Association has allowed a maximum of four foreign players including two from Asian country per team.
Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | AFC Player | SAFF Player | Former Player |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Church Boys United | Franklin Kuete Talla | Joseph Bempah | Yves Priso | Ranjeet Pandre[12] | Gagandeep Singh[13] | |
Friends Club | Rafiq Aminu | Ben Quansah | Torric Jebrin | Akhrorbek Uktamov | Uttam Rai | |
Himalayan Sherpa Club | Manuel Nana Agyemang[14] | Pistone Mutamba | Abayomi Oluwaseun Fakunle | Mohamad Kdouh[15] | Satyam Sharma[16] | |
Jawalakhel YC | Masoabi Nkoto[17] | Fode Fofana[18] | Abdul Majid Samate | Abdulaziz Nishonboev[19] | Rahul Khokhar[20] | |
FC Khumaltar | Messouke Oloumou[21] | Stephane Binong[22] | Theophilus Owutey Apoh[23] | Sanwil D'Costa[24] | Abhishek Verma[25] | |
Machhindra F.C. | Andrés Nia | Kareem Omolaja | Afeez Olawale Oladipo | Yuta Suzuki[26] | Chencho Gyeltshen[27] | Dayananda Singh Elangbam[28] |
Manang Marshyangdi Club | Diawandou Diagne[29] | Oluwashina Azeez[30] | Koffi Timothée Koudo[30] | Saidzhamol Davlatzhonov[31] | Yash Mhatre[32] | |
Nepal APF F.C. | Adama Doumbiya | Armand Beadum | Abdou Ramani Poutougnigni | Yuya Kuriyama | ||
Nepal Police Club | Joe Aidoo | Moses Twum | Serge Dicka | Ahmad Hijazi[33] | Mohammed Ashiq[34] | |
New Road Team | Nicolas Serge Song | Jean Anicet Mboumi | Stephane Junior Nguimbous | Lalnunzama[35] | Saivish Singh[36] | |
Sankata BSC | Andre Thiery Biyik | Nelson Yunwa | Junior Nkengue | Youssef Atriss | Sandip Alay[37] | |
Satdobato Youth Club | Abdul Latif Abubakari | William Opoku | Ivan Marić | Sardorbek Matmuratov | ||
Tribhuvan Army Club | ||||||
Three Star Club | Peter Segun | Ajayi Martins Kayode | Siphamandla Mathenjwa | Mohammad Taha |
Head coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manang Marshyangdi Club | Kiran Shrestha | Personal Issues | 1 May 2023[38] | Bishnu Gurung | 6 May 2023 | |
Church Boys United | Pradip Humagain | Work permit issues[39] | 6 April 2023[40] | 3rd | Bal Gopal Maharjan | 13 April 2023 |
Machhindra Football Club | Prabesh Katuwal | Appointed National Coach Assistant[41] | 9 April 2023 | Kishor Kumar KC[42] | 9 April 2023 |
Venues
The league was played in two cities in the Kathmandu Valley.[43]
Kathmandu | Lalitpur | |
---|---|---|
Dasarath Rangasala | Chyasal Stadium | ANFA Complex |
Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 6,000 |
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Church Boys United (C) | 26 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 34 | 15 | +19 | 48 | |
2 | Machhindra FC | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 45 | Qualification for 2023–24 AFC Cup preliminary round 1[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Nepal Police Club | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 30 | −1 | 41 | |
4 | Jawalakhel YC | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 37 | |
5 | Satdobato Youth Club | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 35 | |
6 | New Road Team F.C. | 26 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 37 | −4 | 34[lower-alpha 2] | |
7 | Tribhuvan Army F.C. | 26 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 30 | 29 | +1 | 34[lower-alpha 2] | |
8 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 25 | 29 | −4 | 32[lower-alpha 3] | |
9 | Three Star Club | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 32[lower-alpha 3] | |
10 | Sankata BSC | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 32[lower-alpha 3] | |
11 | Himalayan Sherpa Club | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 31 | |
12 | Friends Club | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 30[lower-alpha 4] | |
13 | Nepal APF F.C. (R) | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 36 | −7 | 30[lower-alpha 4] | Relegation to 2024 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League |
14 | FC Khumaltar (R) | 26 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 34 | 54 | −20 | 27 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) head-to-head; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Church Boys United failed to obtain an AFC club license and were replaced by the next highest placed team with a license.
- Head-to-head: New Road 3–3 Tribhuvan Army, New Road 1–0 Tribhuvan Army
- Head-to-head points: Manang Marshyangdi 8, Three Star 5, Sankata 2
- Head-to-head: Friends 1–1 Nepal APF, Friends 4–0 Nepal APF
Results
1st Round
2nd Round
Positions by round
Leader | |
Relegation to B-Division |
Results by games
Season statistics
Top Goal Scorers
As of 10 June 2023[44]
Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Afeez Olawale Oladipo | Machhindra FC | 23 |
2 | Messouke Oloumou | Khumaltar FC | 18 |
3 | Masoabi Nkoto | Jawalakhel YC | 16 |
4 | Rafiq Aminu | Friends | 14 |
5 | Dipak Raj Thakuri | Satdobato YC | 12 |
6 | Stephane Binong | Khumaltar FC | 10 |
7 | Koffi Timothée Koudo | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 9 |
Hat-tricks
Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afeez Olawale Oladipo5 | Machhindra FC | Khumaltar FC | 7–3[45] | 11 April 2023 |
Stephane Binong | Khumaltar FC | Jawalakhel YC | 4–2[46] | 5 May 2023 |
Anjan Bista | Church Boys | New Road Team | 4–1[47] | 6 May 2023 |
Afeez Olawale Oladipo | Machhindra FC | Satdobato YC | 3–1[48] | 31 May 2023 |
- 5 Player scored 5 goals
Clean Sheets
As of 10 June 2023[49]
Rank | Player | Team | Clean sheets |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Yves Priso | Church Boys | 11 |
2 | Bishal Shrestha | Machhindra FC | 9 |
3 | Deep Karki | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 8 |
Mohammad Taha | Three Star Club | ||
Satrughan Chaudhary | Nepal Police Club | ||
6 | Abhishek Baral | Satdobato YC | 7 |
Bikesh Kuthu | Tribhuvan Army Club | ||
8 | Tikendra Singh Thapa | Sankata BSC | 6 |
Awards
End-of-Season Awards
Award[50] | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | Ananta Tamang | Church Boys United |
Emerging Player | Laken Limbu | Three Star Club |
Top Scorer | Olawale Afeez Oladipo | Machhindra F.C. |
Best Goalkeeper | Yves Priso | Church Boys United |
Fair Play | Nepal Police Club |
Controversy
The All Nepal Football Association sanctioned Sankata BSC for delaying the kick-off of their match against Nepal APF FC and latter club for delaying the kick-off of the second half of the game.[51][52]
FC Khumaltar was also sanctioned for breaking locker-room chairs after a 7–3 loss to Machhindra FC at Chyasal Stadium.[51]
After attempting to "attack"a referee following a 1–1 draw against New Road Team, players of Machhindra FC were sanctioned by the Football Association.[51]
Notes
References
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