Hatchets have long been buried. The former captain of the national football team, Ganesh Thapa, is back in his rightful position as the president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). Nepali Times spoke to Thapa about ANFA's current activities and how he plans to take Nepal's most popular sport further.

Nepali Times: What are the future plans of ANFA?
With the help of the Goal Project and our own resources we have established three technical centres where coaches are given training. Our priority at the moment is building our own football stadium. Since most of the tournaments are held in Kathmandu, we are looking for land here. Within two weeks we will know and in two years time the stadium will be ready.

How is the relationship between ANFA and the government's National Sports Council (NSC)?
The relationship is fine but as far as ANFA is concerned, we are an independent body. From this year on we will receive no help (financially) from NSC. Even if we demand, His Majesty's Government perhaps does not have the budget and more importantly sports is not a priority for it. We are collecting our own resources through our own means and are no longer dependent on NSC.

What is most essential for the development of the game?
First we need the help of the government-sports should be given priority. And then of course we need money. We are raising our own resources and are doing the best we can but this is not enough to take the game further.

How is ANFA mobilising the resources it has?
Good things hardly appear in the media. ANFA has been recognised as among the three best football associations in the whole of Asia, along with the likes of Japan and Qatar. I am not saying this because I am the president of the association but as a player. Our grassroots-level programs are being implemented in 38 districts. To choose the best of the best from all over the nation we are holding school level tournaments throughout the country. Then there are the under-14, under-17 and national level tournaments so we can prepare the best of the best for the future. We have our own Academy (ANFA complex Satdobato) where we are providing everything, including education to 80 kids all year round. Our main goal is to start selecting and training the best young talents so that we can produce the best footballers. You will see the results in the years to come.

What are the weaknesses of Nepali footballers?
Lack of international exposure, which leads to lack of confidence. Second, physically we are not strong. At the Academy (in the ANFA complex in Satdobato) I can only afford to give the minimum diet as per Nepali standards. If we had money I would give them a better diet, have better coaches and send them abroad for training and tournaments. Only if there are proper incentives will players perform better. That is why we have put cash prizes up to 27 lakhs for the league games so that it encourages the youth to play football.

Why do you think the government is not giving enough support?
Its not just football-the government does not have a policy towards any sports. You will see media persons, actors and academicians get felicitated but what about sports personalities? For example, Nepal beat India in the recent SAF games. The captain was Raju Shakya. He was a temporary staff at the RNAC and a week after he came back he was among three people to be thrown out. How will players be able to perform under such conditions? Unless there is a change in thought and mentality there is no use sending proposals to the government.

PIC: ALOK TUMBAHANGPHEY