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Kathmandu, October 30 — In a bid to ensure the long-term development of Nepali football, Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta held a discussion on Thursday with officials of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and representatives of ‘A’ Division clubs at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Following the meeting, a five-member task force has been formed under the coordination of ANFA Chief Executive Officer Indraman Tuladhar. The task force has been directed to present a comprehensive framework for the long-term development of Nepali football within five days, according to Minister Gupta.

During the meeting, Minister Gupta also raised concerns about the organization of the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League, budget limitations, and coordination among clubs and ANFA.

ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai highlighted that a lack of sufficient budget has made it difficult to operate the league on schedule. Meanwhile, club representatives expressed frustration over delays in league organization, stating that the uncertainty has affected players and club planning.

The representatives further mentioned that ANFA’s proposal to hold a home-and-away format league was impractical for many clubs due to financial and logistical challenges.

Minister Gupta assured the meeting that the ministry would provide necessary support for the smooth operation of the league and for the structural development of football in Nepal.

He emphasized, “Football is one of the most popular sports in our country. The ministry is committed to supporting its sustainable growth and long-term planning.”

The ministry is expected to take further policy decisions based on the taskforce’s recommendations once the report is submitted.