Anil's big money signing with I-League newcomers Shillong Lajong FC could potentially be the most important Nepali football event in a generation. I myself literally yelled in joy and pumped my fist up in the air on first hearing the news. Anil’s contract with SLFC is not only a great personal accomplishment but provides something far greater for Nepali football , something that has gone missing from our country’s favorite sport for a very long period of time.

Hope!

Nepali football has long been a playground for opportunists, incompetents, and lethargics; and in this new age of professionalism in sports, no longer are we able to overcome our traditional political and administrative shortcomings.

In recent years attendances at matches have plummeted, international results have been poor, basic development activities are non-existent and worst of all there has been a mass exodus of players who have decided to dump their boots and seek opportunities outside of football. As a result there has been great collateral damage at the grassroots levels. Many youths have traded in their footballs for cricket bats, fields littered with aspiring footballers are disappearing, and hardly do you find children dreaming of becoming the next Ganesh Thapa, Raju Shakya or Hari Khadka anymore.

Anil’s move to the I-League finally gives us new found hope and lets us dream. Maybe there is a way to conquer the mountains. Maybe there is a way to recapture our past football glories.

 Young kids now have a hero to emulate. Promising players now know that there is a future in football beyond the boarders. Parents and family are now assured that there is a possibility that their sons/husbands can make a good living playing a silly little game. And fans are now optimistic that perhaps foreign leagues might inject our National Team members with the professionalism and advanced training regiments that are missing domestically.

European football has long provided financial security and top class grooming to African talents. Cognizant of the abundance of talent in Africa, Dutch clubs have setup both football academies and professional clubs in the continent. Even within Europe, the entire Republic of Ireland National Team squad members ply their trade in the United Kingdom.

Anil’s foray into Indian football may just manifest similar parallels for Nepali football. The talent level of our footballers has never been questioned. It is just the poor governance domestically that has stunted their development.

Undoubtedly, Anil’s journey to Northeast India still needs to play out. He has yet to prove himself there, and many times contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. But at least for a few weeks – maybe even months – Anil Gurung has finally brought much needed hope to Nepali football.

By Biplav Gautam

Biplav Gautam is currently a partner at Sportxiom Ventures, a sports new media company. You can find his Nepal Sports Blog at www.rangasala.blogspot.com