Nepal was badly hit by continuous three days bandh. In these bandh days, public transpotation was completely barred. The vehicles of public and even of media persons' were vandalised if they were found riding bikes and driving, forcing them to walk.  People were hindered to continue their work in bandh days due to the mobility problem. When the entire nation was so much affected by bandh, football activities were on and totally unaffected. Football players, club officials and ANFA  officials were regular on the field even in the worsening situation of Nepal.

AFC U-14 Festival, C Division Qualifiers and Nepal U-22 Training were on full swing irrespective of hard hitting bandhs.

ANFA couldn't organize AFC U-14 Festival at scheduled venue, Dasrath stadium due to bandhs. However ANFA continued its program at ANFA Complex ground. The participating teams of AFC U-14 Festival are staying at ANFA Academy where the festival is being held. So, bandh was no issue for them. But ANFA officials had to come to the festival at ANFA complex regularly from their home. ANFA President Ganesh Thapa also came ANFA office on foot.

C Division players, team officials deserve a round of applause who came from a long way to Sanogaucharan to play in the tournament and not to forget ANFA official, Shyam Lama who came everyday from Arubari during bandhs. Even fans came with their teams to support them.

May be the Players and officials are so much in love with football or they were left with no options except following the schedule of tournaments.Whatever the reason may be, the efforts of these people have helped the game football to win over this mighty bandhs.

Let's read how these players and officials helped this game overpower bandh

Best Balaju Youth Club: Best Balaju Youth Club players and officials live in Balaju. During bandhs, all the players and officials used to meet at Balaju chowk and come together to Sanogaucharan on foot. They used to depart from the chowk at around 7.30 AM and arrive at the playing venue at 9.30 AM to play the match which was scheduled at 10:30 PM.

Best Balaju Youth Club coach Dinesh Rana said that they had to suffer a lot due to bandhs.

"We faced difficulties in coming to the venue during bandhs because the venue is far and Anfa didn't change the schedule even in the continuos strikes."

Best Balaju Youth Club skipper Jivan Adhikari said his team had some players from Nuwakot and they couldn't return their home due to the strikes.  He also said that Anfa should have postponed the game during the bandhs.

Shanti Goreto Youth Club: A Chabahil based club has its most of the players from Jorpati and Boudha. The players came to Sanogaucharan ground by walking.

Captain Purna Gurung shared GoalNepal.com that they were also badly hit by bandh and he also expressed his frustrations on the ground condition. He said, "We  came walking to play from Boudha and Jorpati during the strikes. For us, the ground condition was a bigger problem than the bandhs".

"See, the ground does not have a single grass on it, " Gurung points out on the bare ground.


The skipper also critisized on the judgement of the referee. "I felt that the referee does not have that standard and quality to be on the field".

"We are not happy with the decision of referees. They looked like trainee referees". 

Gurung is, however, happy to share that fans came along with them from Boudha to support them.

Mahadevsthan Club ( Kuntabesi, Kavre) Manager Thakur Prasad Lamsal told GoalNepal.com that they had to come Kathmandu on Monday night at 10 PM to play the match scheduled on Tuesday.

According to the manager,15-18 people came in 6 bikes after the strike was open for some hours in the evening. On the way to Kathmandu, traffic Police had obstructed them on the way because they were 3 people in one bike. But they somehow managed to explain to the traffic police about the match they were going to participate.

Because of the bandhs, the team could not even include their some of the main players, Manager Lamsal informed.

The players stayed at Baneswore, Kausaltar and Shantinagar. Some players stayed at their friends house and some of them stayed with their relatives.

According to Lamsal, they returned on Tuesday evening after the strike was over and would definitely come to play their next game on Jestha 14 even if there would be strike.

Not only players  and the team officials but referees and ANFA officials also came to the venue to continue the play.

Shyam Lama, ANFA Official said that he had come to the venue by walking from Arubari, Bouddha in bandhs.

"I have a motorbike but I couldn't ride the bike due to the fear of the protestors", Lama told GoalNepal.com.

 Hats off to all of them who helped football game to continue in the odd situation. Guys, can we say that the football game has won over Bandhs ??

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