2021–22 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League

The 2021–22 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए डिभिजन लिग २०७८), also known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League for sponsorship reasons,[4] was the 44th edition of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League since its establishment in 1954/55. A total of 14 teams competed in the league.

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Season2021–22
Dates19 November 2021[1] – 26 February 2022
ChampionsMachhindra FC
RelegatedChyasal Youth Club
Brigade Boys Club
AFC CupMachhindra F.C.
Matches played91
Goals scored190 (2.09 per match)
Top goalscorerJamoul Francois (7 goals)[a]
Highest scoring7 goals
FC 5–2 BBC
Longest winning run7 games
Machhindra
Longest unbeaten run13 games
Tribhuvan Army
Machhindra
Longest winless run9 games
Friends Club
Longest losing run3 games
Nepal APF Club
Brigade Boys
Chyasal Youth Club
Jawalakhel YC
Friends Club
Highest attendance11,000[3]
Lowest attendance200[citation needed]
2023
All statistics correct as of 26 February 2022.

Machhindra F.C. were the defending champions.[5] Due to time constraints, i.e. the league finishing after the qualification cut-off, instead of the league winner, the All Nepal Football Association decided that the top team after matchday 7, Machhindra F.C., would represent the league in the 2022 AFC Cup preliminary round 1.[6]

The league was scheduled to begin on 19 September 2021[7] but was pushed back to begin on 15 November 2021 after multiple participating clubs' demand to postpone the league start due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal.[8] It was finally scheduled to be played from 19 November and matches were to be only played on weekends as opposed to matches being played throughout the week as was the case during the previous seasons.[1]

On 16 February 2022, after matchday 11, Machhindra F.C. were crowned as league winners for the second consecutive time.[9]

Teams edit

A total of 14 teams, all based in the Kathmandu Valley, contested the league with a relegation system. Thirteen teams from the 2019–20 season and one team promoted from the B-Division participated in the league. Satdobato Youth Club, who debuted in the A-Division league, replaced Saraswoti Youth Club who were relegated after five seasons in the league. Prior to the season, Nepal Army Club reverted their name back to Tribhuvan Army F.C.,[10] a name that the team had used until the 2010 season.

Location edit

Team Location Previous Season
Himalayan Sherpa Club Kathmandu 10th
Machhindra F.C. 1st
Nepal APF Club 12th
Tribhuvan Army F.C. 2nd
Nepal Police Club 5th
New Road Team 8th
Sankata BSC 7th
Brigade Boys Club Lalitpur 13th
Chyasal Youth Club 9th
Friends Club 11th
Jawalakhel YC 6th
Satdobato Youth Club 1st (2020 B-Division)
Three Star Club 4th
Manang Marshyangdi Club Kathmandu[b] 3rd

Personnel and kits edit

Team Head Coach Captain Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
Brigade Boys Club   Sanoj Shrestha   Anil Gurung[12] MFashionista Khukri Rum
Chyasal Youth Club   Bal Gopal Sahukhala  Biraj Maharjan Ucan
Friends Club   Mrigendra Mishra   Prakash Budhathoki[13] Ucan
Himalayan Sherpa Club   Yugal Kishor Rai   Bishwas Shrestha[14] KTM CTY Nepal Ice
Jawalakhel YC   Kishor K.C.  Kuldip Karki Li-Ning
Machhindra F.C.   Prabesh Katuwal[15]  Sujal Shrestha T10 Sports Pepe Pizza, Surf Excel[16]
Manang Marshyangdi Club   Rajendra Tamang  Anjan Bista KTM CTY Nepal Oil Corporation
Nepal APF Club   Kumar Thapa   Top Bahadur Bista Kelme Agni Mahindra
Nepal Police Club   Ananta Raj Thapa   Ram Chandra Wajee Kelme
New Road Team   Raju Kaji Shakya[17]  Bikram Dhimal Kelme
Sankata BSC   Bishnu Gurung   Ravi Silwal Ucan Himalayan Bank[18]
Satdobato Youth Club   Megh Raj K.C.[19]  Man Bahadur Tamang T10 Sports Golden Oak
Tribhuvan Army F.C.   Nabin Neupane  Bharat Khawas Kelme Kedia Group
Three Star Club   Urjan Shrestha[20]   Bikram Lama[21] Adidas Ruslan

Foreign players edit

All Nepal Football Association has allowed a maximum of four foreign players including one from SAARC-affiliated country per team.[22] For the first time one of the departmental teams, APF Club signed foreign players.[23]

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 SAARC Player Former Player
Brigade Boys Club   Bertrand Ebode[24]   Ruddy Mbakop[24]   Dady Wamba Jr[24]   Gurpreet Singh Chhabal[25]
Chyasal Youth Club   Bikash Meraglia[26]   Moussa Abagana   Ketcha Wannick   Vijay Ponnurangam[27]   Shem Marton[28]
Friends Club   Nathaniel García   Jomoul Francois[29]   Ronnell Paul   Rahul Yadav[30]
Himalayan Sherpa Club   Ulrich Siewe[31]   Pistone Mutamba[citation needed]   Reo Nakamura[32]   Moinuddin Khan[33]
Jawalakhel YC   Njimi Loic[34]   Florent Koara[35]   Onguna Nkengue Junior   Nicholas Fernandes[36]
Machhindra Football Club   Nurlan Novruzov[37]   Sadig Guliyev[37]   Andres Nia   Sonam Bhutia[38]   Kareem Omolaja
Manang Marshyangdi Club   Franklin Kuete   Oluwaunmi Somide   Afeez Olawale Oladipo   Dayananda Singh Elangbam[39]
Nepal APF Club   Kuriyama Yuya[23]   Adama Doumbiya   Armand Beadum
Nepal Police Club
New Road Team   Messouke Oloumou[17]   Stephane Samir[17]   Andre Thierry Biyik Biyik
Sankata BSC   Oluwasogo Glory Odeh   Fode Fofana   Jordan Junior Owana   Uttam Rai[40]
Satdobato Youth Club   Peter Segun[41]   Ajayi Martins Kayode   Martin Adelphe Silo Nanga
Tribhuvan Army F.C.
Three Star Club   Raphael Bidias Rim[42]   Yves Priso[43]   Ansumana Kromah   Shem Marton[44]   Lalrammawia Rammawia[45]

Venues edit

The league was scheduled to be played centrally in two venues in two cities in the Kathmandu Valley.[4] Initially, ANFA Complex was chosen to be the third venue in the Valley.[citation needed] Selected matches of Manang Marsyangdi Club were held in Pokhara to honour the club's origins, making it the first season with matches outside of the Kathmandu Valley.[46] From matchday 13 onwards, ANFA Complex was reintroduced as a venue.[47]

Kathmandu Lalitpur Pokhara
Dasarath Rangasala Chyasal Stadium[c] ANFA Complex[47] Pokhara Rangasala
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 6,000[citation needed] Capacity: 16,500
 

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Machhindra FC (C, Q) 13 11 2 0 20 2 +18 35 Qualification for 2022 AFC Cup preliminary round 1[d]
2 Tribhuvan Army F.C. 13 5 8 0 16 8 +8 23
3 New Road Team 13 6 5 2 16 10 +6 23
4 Satdobato Youth Club 13 6 3 4 14 11 +3 21
5 Manang Marshyangdi Club 13 6 3 4 19 12 +7 21
6 Three Star Club 13 4 7 2 12 7 +5 19
7 Sankata BSC 13 3 7 3 12 11 +1 16
8 Nepal APF Club 13 3 6 4 16 17 −1 15
9 Jawalakhel YC 13 3 5 5 11 14 −3 14
10 Himalayan Sherpa Club 13 3 5 5 12 15 −3 14
11 Nepal Police Club 13 2 6 5 10 15 −5 12
12 Friends Club 13 2 5 6 17 22 −5 11
13 Brigade Boys Club (R) 13 1 5 7 10 24 −14 8 Relegation to 2023 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League
14 Chyasal Youth Club (R) 13 1 3 9 5 22 −17 6
Source: HamroKhelkud
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) head-to-head.
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Despite Jamoul Francois and Messouke Oloumou both scoring 7 goals each, ANFA awarded the title of top goalscorer to Jamoul Francois, as he scored the goals in less time.[2]
  2. ^ 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.[11]
  3. ^ Chyasal Stadium was named one of the three central venues, however, no matches were played at the stadium.[citation needed]
  4. ^ Top team after round 7 qualified for AFC Cup[6]

Results edit

Home \ Away APF BBC CYC FRI HSC JYC MFC MMC NPC NRT SAN SYC TAC TSC
Nepal A.P.F. Club 2–3 0–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 3–1 1–1 3–3 0–0 1–4 1–1 0–0
Brigade Boys Club 3–2 0–0 2–5 1–3 0–0 0–4 0–1 1–1 0–0 0–3 2–3 0–1 1–1
Chyasal Youth Club 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–1 0–2 0–5 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–3
Friends Club 1–3 5–2 2–1 1–1 3–3 0–1 0–2 0–0 2–3 1–2 0–0 1–3 1–1
Himalayan Sherpa Club 0–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2
Jawalakhel Youth Club 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–3 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–2
Machhindra F.C. 2–1 4–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0
Manang Marshyangdi Club 1–3 1–0 5–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1
Nepal Police Club 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1
New Road Team 3–3 0–0 1–1 3–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–0
Sankata BSC 0–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1
Satdobato Youth Club 4–1 3–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0
Tribhuvan Army F.C. 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–0
Three Star Club 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0
Source: ANFA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round edit

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213
Machhindra F.C.3421211111111
Nepal Army F.C.6963344433322
New Road Team1212119788767533
Satdobato Youth Club10615557876754
Manang Marshyangdi Club4132122222245
Three Star Club1776676544466
Sankata BSC8344433355677
Nepal APF Club111314141111101099888
Jawalakhel YC131413131299911111199
Himalayan Sherpa Club511121286568891010
Nepal Police Club7558101011111010101111
Friends Club9101011141414141412121212
Brigade Boys Club228791212121213131313
Chyasal Youth Club148910131313131314141414
Leader
Relegation to B-Division
Source: ANFA

Season statistics edit

Scoring edit

Top goalscorers edit

As of 26 February 2022

Rank Player Team Goals[48]
1   Jomoul Francois[a]
Friends Club 7
  Messouke Oloumou New Road Team
2   Sunil Bal Machhindra 6
  Ajayi Martins Kayode Satdobato Youth Club
  Olawale Afeez Oladipo Manang Marshyangdi Club
3   Aashish Lama Nepal APF Club 5
  Anjan Bista Manang Marshyangdi Club
  Uttam Rai Sankata BSC
4   Bikki Tamang Nepal APF Club 4
  Bimal Gharti Magar Machhindra FC
  Darshan Gurung New Road Team
  George Prince Karki Tribhuvan Army
  Nathaniel García Friends Club
  Pistone Mutamba Himalayan Sherpa Club
  Suman Lama Nepal Police Club

Hat-tricks edit

Player For Against Result Date
  Ajayi Martins Kayode Satdobato Youth Club Nepal APF Club 4–1[50] 3 December 2021
  Afeez Olawale Oladipo Manang Marshyangdi Club Chyasal Youth Club 5–0[51] 8 January 2022
  Messouke Oloumou New Road Team Nepal Police Club 3–1[52] 26 February 2022

Clean sheets edit

Rank Player Team Clean sheets[48]
1   Bishal Shrestha Machhindra 11
2   Yves Priso Three Star Club 6
3   Ajit Prajapati New Road Team 5
  Bikesh Kuthu Tribhuvan Army
  Raja Babu Thapa Sankata BSC
4   Abhishek Baral Satdobato Youth Club 4
  Tikendra Singh Thapa Jawalakhel Youth Club
5   Bishal Sunar Manang Marshyangdi Club 3
  Kuriyama Yuya Nepal APF Club

Awards edit

End-of-season awards edit

Award Winner[53] Club
Player of the Season   Sunil Bal Machhindra F.C.
Emerging Player   Dinesh Henjan Tribhuvan Army
Top Scorer   Jomoul Francois Friends Club
Best Goalkeeper   Bishal Shrestha Machhindra F.C.
Fair Play Satdobato Youth Club

Broadcast rights edit

Selected matches were broadcast live on Kantipur Television.[54]

All matches were also streamed live on Eleven Sports.[55]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Despite Jamoul Francois and Messouke Oloumou both scoring 7 goals each, ANFA awarded the title of top goalscorer to Jamoul Francois, as he scored the goals in less time.[49]

References edit

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