Dhangadhi FC and Kathmandu Rangers are battling for the title of the country’s first franchise football tournament at Dasharath Stadium on Saturday.
The final of the country’s first franchise football competition Nepal Super League (NSL) has also become a competition of the backward states against powerhouse. Where Dhangadhi FC and Kathmandu Razors are fighting.
Kathmandu coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said, “We have reached the final of the competition which is being held in Kathmandu.” We will keep the trophy in the Kathmandu valley. He was also the coach of the Nepali national team that won the title of the Three Nations Cup held at Dasharath Stadium last April. Immediately after that, he went to manage NSL Club Kathmandu.
Dhangadhi not only wants to attack the power center for the NSL title, but also wants to kiss the trophy. Although the club is from the far west ( Sudurpaschim) but 16 of the 20 players in the team are from the east.
Dhangadhi FC Coach Tope Fuja said , We will try our best to win. The final is also a competition of Rs 2 million. The winner will get Rs 3.5 million and the runner-up will get Rs 1.5 million.
Injury
Having to play in the playoffs twice, the Kathmandu players got a chance to rest for only one day. Sanjok Rai’s hamstring is his main problem. Sanjok is hard to play, coach Maharjan said . The final is a game. There are some problems but we are focusing on preventing that from happening. Kathmandu will play fourth game in eight days including the final.
Dhangadhi is also not free from injuries. His Nigerian forward Afiz is haunted by hamstring. But Dhangadhi FC coach says he is fit for the final and the team has no injury problems.