APF coach blames pay gap for team’s poor show

APF Football Club coach Kumar Thapa said it would be a tough challenge for his side to compete with other teams in the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League with huge salary disparity after his side succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Chyasal Youth Club at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday.

A lone goal from Rumesh Bartaula in the second half inflicted the departmental team their second defeat in a row from as many matches. In the first game played last week, they had gone down 3-2 against Brigade Boys Club.

The former multiple 'A' division title winner said, "there can be no comparison between players who get a monthly salary of Rs 200,000 and the one who earn constable's salary," said Thapa whose side had struggled to avoid relegation in the last season finishing 12th in the 14-team contest.

He pointed out the policy of not hiring foreigner players and low salary scale on offer to enroll star players as setbacks for the team. "It is high time that the club thinks of hiring overseas players and raising the salary to recruit expensive players.

The departmental team have acquired the AFC club license certificate that has opened the door for them to hire foreigner players.

Regarding his team's defeat against Chyasal, Thapa said, "It definitely puts us under pressure when we lose against the same level team. We fought hard last season to avoid relegation. We are positive that we will not face such a situation this time. But we are under pressure after two defeats in a row. We feel like we have lost 12 points rather than six.”

Chyasal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan, whose team had lost 3-0 against Three Star in the last game, was happy with the outcome. "We were somewhat frustrated after losing the opening game, but the winning result has raised the confidence of the team. The attacking lineup still lacks proper understanding."

In the almost one sided affair dominated by Chyasal, defender Kamal Shrestha's 14th minute strike was punched away to safety by goalie Raju Yogi. The glovesman rescued APF three minutes later, denying Ajit Gurung's strike.

Bartaula scored four minutes into the second half with a spectacular show which turned out to be decisive. The midfielder dribbled past two defenders and fired at the far post from the edge of the area after collecting defender Shrestha's pass.

The Lalitpur-based team missed yet another scoring chance in the 66th after their Cameroonian defender Ketcha Yannick ended up shooting off the target.

MMC toil hard to beat Himalayan Sherpa

A late goal from Nigerian forward Olawale Afeez gave eight times champion Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) 1-0 victory over Himalayan Sherpa Club as they pulled second victory to climb atop the standings.

The forward headed the all-important goal six minutes from time as MMC, who had edged Jawalakhel Youth Club with the same score last week, earned six points from two matches.

Himalayan Sherpa played with the stubborn defense and thwarted MMC’s frequent attacks before conceding the goal.

"The opponents came with the ambition of one point and played with compact defense," MMC coach Rajendra Tamang said after the match. "We failed to create opportunities in the first half and our strategy of wing play and crosses could not fetch the goal for a long time."

MMC threatened as early as in the fourth minute when Adelaja Somide's close range header missed the target by inches while Himalayan Sherpa goalie Deep Karki was out of his position. Forward Bimal Rana wasted another scoring opportunity for MMC in the 17th as he failed to connect the Nigerian forward’s acute cross.

Himalayan Sherpa's first threat on MMC goal came four minutes before the interval when Bishwash Shrestha's right flank freekick rattled the bar at the far post. MMC thought that they broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half when Somide headed Indian midfielder Dayananda Singh's cross, only for the ball to go wide.

MMC threatened yet again in the 83rd through forward Dipak Rai who headed perfectly to turn a Nishan Limbu cross just below the bar. But the goalie Deep Karki took quick action to punch the ball to safety. But MMC's pressure was rewarded in the resulting corner as Nigerian forward Olawale Afeez headed Nepali international Pujan Uperkoti corner from the area after a flick header by Limbu.

Himalayan Sherpa coach Yugal Kishor Rai was full of praise for his side despite the defeat. "If my players maintain the same consistency, they could finish the league in good shape. They followed the system and played a disciplined game. But luck is also important in football," said Rai stressing the need for improvement in the finishing department.