New Road Team (NRT) is not a new name in Nepali football, everyone knows it as a middle position team these days, as it was way back in 2052 BS that it had won A Division Sahid Smarak League. NRT has not acquired huge success after that great achievement as it has been finishing the league somewhere in the middle. By allocating 50 Lakhs budget for football alone, the club’s strategy has altered to become league champions. It has finally taken step towards commercialization of Football clubs in Nepal.
To strengthen the team formation, recently they have hired 12 energetic key players and the comeback of former coach Yogambar Suwal who led the club to victory in 2052 BS is welcome news. Furthermore, the club targets to get hold of AFC President Cup representing Nepal after winning the league title. After securing middle rank position in the last A Division Sahid Smarak League, NRT with the wish to capture the title next time has hired 12 energetic key players from current leading clubs. Out of which, six of them are from Carlsberg “Manang Marshyangdi Club” (MMC), 2 each from Nabil “Three Star Club” (TSC) and Sankata Kathnamdu Mall club, one from Machhindra Energizer Club and a fresh talent as well. “Highest Scorer” of previous league Anil Gurung, top midfielders Basanta Gauchan and Khum Gurung, defensive defenders Sagar Thapa, Nabin Neupane and Umesh Upreti from Carlsberg MMC have been paid handsomely by NRT. In addition, striker Nirajan Rayamajhi and keeper Binod Dangol from Nabil TSC, Ranjit Shrestha and Biraj Maharjan from Sankata Club, Bal Gopal Sahukhala from Machhindra Energizer Club and new talent Tulashi Bajoo as 3rd keeper have transferred themselves to NRT.
The team being strengthened by the arrival of energetic key players, NRT is preparing to pay for some international players as well, that will most probably be African players. Out of 25, agreement of 9 players has been renewed including previous league’s Best keeper Surendra Shrestha who has captained NRT in previous league and representing as national keepers as well. The Managing Director, Sanjeev Tuladhar of Roots Fashion handed over 2 sets of Jerseys to the players on behalf of the sponsor. The new strategy of NRT is clearly explained by secretary of the club, Binaya Pradhan, which is to become league champion this year and to represent Nepal in AFC President Cup the preceding year. Also, 17-member sub committee has been formed for the well management of the club as well. Joint effort of the former coach Yogamber Suwal along with current coach Raju Shakya, ex- national player expects to lead to success. While turning historical pages of AFC President Cup, for the first time Three Star Club (TSC) made into semi final entry 2 years back, performing agreeably with the appreciated performance of Mid fielder Pradeep Maharjan in home ground. Following year, the league champion Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) succeeded upto league matches but was unable play knockout round. This year, Mahendra Police Club (MPC) has yet to perform in AFC President Cup in Bangladesh representing Nepal. Only time will tell if NRT get the opportunity of representing the nation next year by becoming A division champion. The most vital thing for them will be successfully implementing their strategy on the ground. However, it deserves best wishes from football fans all over the country to perform it’s best as one of the strong teams and make the league more interesting than the previous occasion.
– Luckysurya
