Anjan Bista (Nepali: अञ्जन विष्ट; born 15 May 1998) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Fortis FC and the Nepal national team. With 13 goals, Bista is Nepal's joint all time highest goal-scorer along with Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi.[3]

Anjan Bista
अञ्जन विष्ट
Bista with Nepal in 2014
Personal information
Full name Anjan Bista
Date of birth (1998-05-15) 15 May 1998 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth Hetauda, Nepal[2]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Fortis FC
Youth career
2011–2014 ANFA Academy
2016 Marbella
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 APF Club 14 (8)
2018–2022 Manang Marshyangdi 34 (16)
2021Lalitpur City (loan) 8 (3)
2022Jhapa (loan) 0 (0)
2022–2023 Church Boys United 15 (7)
2023 Mumbai Kenkre 8 (1)
2023–2024 Jhapa 6 (1)
2024– Fortis FC 0 (0)
International career
2013–2014 Nepal U17 5 (3)
2015–2018 Nepal U20 4 (3)
2016–2020 Nepal U23 5 (3)
2014– Nepal 65 (13)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing    Nepal
SAFF Championship
Runner-up 2021 Maldives
AFC Solidarity Cup
Winner 2016 Malaysia
South Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 India
SAFF U-19 Championship
Winner 2015 Nepal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024

Club career edit

During the 12th edition of the Aaha Rara Gold cup, playing for the ANFA Academy Bista score the opening goal in the 17th minute to put his team 1–0 up against Nepal Police Club in Pokhara. However Ranjan Bista scored the equalizer in the 35th minute and the Police Club went on to win on a penalty shootout.[4]

Nepal APF edit

Bista joined Nepal APF for the upcoming 2015 Nepal National League. He scored his first goal for the club in the second round in a 4–1 win over Morang XI. Anjan's brother Ranjan Bista scored two goals in the same match.[5]

Marbella United FC, Spain edit

On 28 March 2016, Bista scored the only goal to defeat Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie U-19 Academy 1–0.[6] Anjan Bista showed brilliant performance during a match against ASC 09 Dortmund.[7]

Manang Marshyangdi edit

In 2018, Anjan joined Manang Marshyangdi Club. In his first season, he scored five goals in the Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League as the team won a record 8th league titles. He was member of the team that took part in the AFC Cup 2019 group stage.

In the 2019–20 Qatar Airways Memorial A Division League, Bista scored 6 goals in 8 appearances as the team finished third.

Church Boys United edit

On December 28, 2013, Church Boys United announced the signing of Nepal international Anjan Bista through there official contract. Bista signed one-year deal with newcomers.[8]

Mumbai Kenkre edit

On 21 January 2023, it was announced that Bista was sent on loan for remaining matches to Indian I-League club Mumbai Kenkre,[9] as Mumbai Kenkre FC was in verge of getting relegated.

Jhapa FC edit

On 26 February 2023, Jhapa FC, one of the three new teams of the franchise-based Nepal Super League football tournament, recruited winger Anjan Bista as their marquee player for the second edition of Nepal Super League.[10]

Fortis FC edit

On 8 March 2024, it was told that Bista joined Bangladesh Premier League club Fortis FC.[11] However, he was sidelined for a couple of weeks when playing for Nepal in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round. So, the Bangladeshi club terminated his contract as he was set to miss most of the remaining matches of that season.[12]

International career edit

U-17 career edit

Bista has been a regular for the Nepalese junior Gurkhas. During the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship semi-finals Bista scored in a 5–1 win over Bangladesh.[13] During the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification Bista scored in a 2–0 victory over Bahrain, ending a six-year-long winning drought for the Nepali u-17 side.[14] In the next game Bista scored the equalizing goal as Nepal came from 2–0 down to tie Iraq 2–2.[15][16] Playing in the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship Bista started as Nepal scored a late equalizer to tie the match 1–1 against defending champions Uzbekistan.[17] Bista was excellent in the next game against Kuwait, it was his early pressure that forced an own goal in the third minute, as well as it was Bista who was fouled in the box for the captain Bimal Magar to score the winning penalty.[18][19][20]

U-20 career edit

In preparation for the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship and the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign, Bista played in several friendlies in which he scored a hat trick against a senior Nepal Army Club earning a 4–2 victory.[21] On the second match of the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship, Bista converted a crucial penalty kick against Bangladesh. To which, the match was won 2:1.[22] In the same tournament, Bista also scored a brace against Afghanistan in the semi-finals to register a 3:2 victory for Nepal sending the team into the finals.[23] Nepal went on to win the final defeating India on penalty kicks.

Senior career edit

Bista made his international debut for Nepal on 31 October 2014 coming on for Sandip Rai in the 61st minute in an eventual 3–0 loss against the Philippines.[24][25]

On 6 March 2015, Bista was selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) senior team (Nepal) 2-leg match against India. He was as one of the main player when Nepalese team won Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh and gold medal in SAG Games.[26] He scored 2 goals during the Gold winning run in the 2016 SAG Games - one against Bhutan and one against Maldives in the semi-final.

Anjan has since been a prominent member of the Nepal senior team. As a member of the 2022 World Cup qualifier team. He scored 2 goals in 2–0 against Chinese Taipei in the World cup 2022 Asian qualifiers in Taipei. Bista performed well against Australia earning praise from the commentator Andy Harper and Simon Hill from Fox Sports.

Personal life edit

After the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship it was announced that Bista had plans to turn to singing.[27] Soon after a video of Bista singing popular a Dashain song was released. "This is a new taste for [me]. I really enjoy singing." said Bista afterwards thanking Kaarlrekha productions.[28]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

Season Club League League Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2018-19 Manang Marshyangdi Club Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 13 5 0 0 13 5
Total 13 5 0 0 13 5
2019-20 Manang Marshyangdi Club Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 13 6 0 0 13 6
Total 13 6 0 0 13 6
2021 Manang Marshyangdi Club Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 13 5 0 0 9 3
Total 9 3 0 0 9 3
Career total 35 14 0 0 35 14

International goals edit

Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first.[29]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 September 2019 Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan   Chinese Taipei 1–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 2–0
3. 29 May 2021 Al Fayhaa Stadium, Basra, Iraq   Iraq 1–1 2–6 Friendly
4. 3 June 2021 Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait   Chinese Taipei 1–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 2 September 2021 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   India 1–0 1–1 Friendly
6. 4 October 2021 National Football Stadium, Malé, Maldives   Sri Lanka 2–0 3–2 2021 SAFF Championship
7. 13 October 2021   Bangladesh 1–1 1–1
8. 27 September 2022 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   Bangladesh 1–0 3–1 Friendly
9. 2–0
10. 3–0
11. 16 November 2022   Pakistan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
12. 21 June 2023 Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, India   Kuwait 1–3 1–3 2023 SAFF Championship
13. 12 October 2023 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   Laos 1–1 1–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Individual edit

  • NSJF Sports Award 2016 Youth Player of the Year[30][31]

References edit

  1. ^ FIFA.com
  2. ^ "Prolific Nepal U17 Striker Anjan Karki Dreams To Play For Nepal National Team!". GoalNepal.com. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  3. ^ "विश्वकप छनोट : अञ्जनको कीर्तिमानी गोलमा लाओससँग नेपालको बराबरी". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  4. ^ "Armed Police register difficult win over ANFA Academy in the opener". imagechannels.com. 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  5. ^ "RedBull National League: APF Thrash Morang XI To Register First Win". GoalNepal.com. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Nepal International Anjan Bista Scores A Goal For Marbella United FC Against NEC Nijmegen". www.goalnepal.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  7. ^ "Anjan and Ananta Showed solid performance against ASC 09 Dortmund - Nepal Chronicle". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  8. ^ "Anjan Bista Signs For Church Boys United". GoalNepal. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  9. ^ "Anjan Bista Signs For I-League Side Mumbai Kenkre FC". goalnepal.com. Kathmandu: Goal Nepal. 21 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Nepal Super League side Jhapa FC sign winger Anjan Bista". kathmandupost.com. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Fortis FC rope in Anjan Bista". The Daily Star. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  12. ^ offsidebangladesh (2024-03-25). "বিপিএল খেলা হচ্ছে না অঞ্জন বিস্তার; ফর্টিসে সোমা ওতানি!". অফসাইড. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  13. ^ Dinesh Thapa. "SAFF U-16 Championship: Nepal thrash Bangladesh to reach final". SportsKeeda. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Anjan, Ananta score as Nepal ease to victory". Himalayan Times. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Anjan Bista, Gharti Magar score as Nepal level 2–2 against Iraq". EKantipur.com. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Anjan Bista, Gharti Magar score as Nepal level 2-2 against Iraq". Yeti Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  17. ^ Wilson Gurung (8 September 2014). "AFC U-16 Championship 2014: Kiran Sunar Shines As Nepal Stops Defending Champions Uzbekistan". Easy Nepal. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  18. ^ "AFC U-16 Championship: Nepal regains lead against Kuwait (Live Update)". My Republica. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  19. ^ "AFC U-16 Championship 2014: Nepal Defeats Kuwait". Texas Nepal. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Gharti Magar's spot-kick helps Nepal beat Kuwait in AFC U-16 C'ship". directionkathmandu.com. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Anjan Bista Scores A Hattrick As Nepal U19 Thrashes Nepal Police In A Friendly Match". GoalNepal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
  22. ^ "1st SAFF U19 Championship: Nepal U19 Beats Bangladesh U19 To Enter Semis As A Group Winner". www.goalnepal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-29. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  23. ^ "Nepal books place in final". www.the-anfa.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  24. ^ "Friendly Nepal vs Philippines - Live Updates and Streaming Info". GiveMeGoal.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Nepal vs Philippines: Live Commentary". GoalNepal.com. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  26. ^ "Final squad for qualifer [sic] against India announced". ANFA. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Nepal U-16 Striker Anjan Bista Turns Singer!". goalnepal.com. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  28. ^ "Listen How Nepal U-16 Striker Anjan Bista Sings A Dashin Song For Nepalese Football Fans - VIDEO". goalnepal.com. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Bista, Anjan". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  30. ^ "NSJF Sports Awards 2072". GoalNepal. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  31. ^ "Football dominates Sports Awards". Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

External links edit