Martyr's Memorial A-Division League

This article is about the top division in men's Nepalese football. For top tier in Nepalese women's football, see National Women's League (Nepal).

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Organising bodyANFA
Founded1954; 71 years ago (1954)
Country   Nepal
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toMartyr's Memorial B-Division League
International cup(s)AFC Challenge League
Current championsChurch Boys United (1st title)
Most championshipsManang Marsyangdi (8 titles)
Top goalscorerSantosh Sahukhala (104 goals)
TV partnersSpace 4K Television (YouTube)
Websitewww.the-anfa.com
Current: 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए- डिभिजन लिग; formerly known as the Kathmandu League Championship) is the top tier of football in Nepal. Contested by 12 to 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with each team playing every other team twice. It is officially known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

A new Nepal National League was created in 2011 to give a chance to compete at A level tournaments to the clubs outside Kathmandu valley. There were 9 clubs competing in the National League, 5 of which are teams of Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.[1][2]

Teams

Current teams

The following 14 teams will compete in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League in the 2022–23 season, with two teams promoted from the B-Division.[citation needed]

Club Location 2021–22 position
Church Boys United Lalitpur (Balkumari) 1st (B-Division)
Friends Club Lalitpur (Kupondole) 12th
Himalayan Sherpa Club Kathmandu (Hattigauda) 10th
Jawalakhel YC Lalitpur (Jawalakhel) 9th
FC Khumaltar Lalitpur (Khumaltar) 2nd (B-Division)
Machhindra Football Club Kathmandu (Jana Bahal) 1st
Manang Marshyangdi Club Pokhara, Kaski 5th
APF F.C. Kathmandu (Halchowk) 8th
Nepal Police F.C. Kathmandu (Maharajgunj) 11th
New Road Team Kathmandu (New Road) 3rd
Sankata BSC Kathmandu (Te Bahal) 7th
Satdobato Youth Club Lalitpur (Satdobato) 4th
Three Star Club Lalitpur (Patan) 6th
Nepal Army F.C. Kathmandu (Bhadrakali) 2nd

Champions

Since the start of the league, 17 clubs have won the title in 45 tournaments. Manang Marshyangdi Club have the most (8 titles) under their belt. Church Boys United are the current champions.[3]

S.N. Season B.S. Winner Top scorer
1 1954–55 2011 Mahabir Club
2 1955–56 2012 Police Force
3 1956–57 2013 Police Force (2)
4 1957–58 2014 Army XI
1958–60 2015–16 League not held
5 1960–61 2017 New Road Team
6 1962–63 2019 New Road Team (2)
7 1963–64 2020 Bidya Byama
1964–66 2021–22 League not held
8 1966–67 2023 Mahabir Club (2)
9 1967–68 2024 Friends Union
10 1968–69 2025 Deurali Club
11 1969–70 2026 Mahabir Club (3)
12 1970–71 2027 Deurali Club (2)
13 1971–72 2028 Ranipokhari Corner Team
14 1972–73 2029 Ranipokhari Corner Team (2)
15 1973–74 2030 Ranipokhari Corner Team (3)
16 1975 2032 Boys Union Club
17 1976 2033 Sunakhari Athletic Club
18 1977 2034 Annapurna Club
19 1978 2035 New Road Team (3)
20 1979 2036 Ranipokhari Corner Team (4)
21 1980 2037 Sankata Boys Club
22 1981–82 2038 Ranipokhari Corner Team (5)
23 1982 2039 Annapurna Club (2)
24 1983 2040 Sankata Boys Club (2)
25 1984 2041 Ranipokhari Corner Team (6)
26 1985 2042 Sankata Boys Club (3)
27 1986 2042–43 Manang Marsyangdi Club
28 1987 2043–44 Manang Marsyangdi Club (2)
1988 2045 League not held
29 1989 2046 Manang Marsyangdi Club (3)
1990–1994 2047–51 League not held
30 1995 2052 New Road Team (4)
1996 2053 League not held
31 1997 2054 Three Star Club
32 1998 2055 Three Star Club (2)
1999 2056 League not held
33 2000 2057 Manang Marsyangdi Club (4) Nepal Nirajan Rayamajhi (15 goals)
2001–02 2058–59 League not held
34 2003–04 2060 Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) Nepal Surendra Tamang (15 goals)
35 2004 2061 Three Star Club (3) Nepal Basanta Thapa (20 goals)
36 2005–06 2062 Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) Nigeria Junior Obagbemiro
Nepal Rishi Rai
(27 goals)
37 2006–07 2063 Mahendra Police Club (3) Nepal Anil Gurung (31 goals)
2007–09 2064–66 League not held due to conflicts between ANFA and the clubs[4]
38 2010 2066–67 Nepal Police F.C. (4) Nepal Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals)
39 2011 2068 Nepal Police F.C. (5) Nepal Ju Manu Rai (21 goals)
2011–12 2068 Nepal National League was held instead
40 2012–13 2069 Three Star Club (4) Nepal Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals)
41 2013–14 2070 Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) Nepal Karna Limbu (11 goals)
2014–15 2071 Nepal National League was held instead
2015–18 2072–74 League not held due to aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake
42 2018–19 2075 Manang Marsyangdi Club (8) Nigeria Afeez Olawale Oladipo
Nepal Bharat Khawas
Nepal Ranjit Dhimal
(7 goals)
43 2019–20 2076 Machhindra Football Club Nepal Aashish Lama (9 goals)
2020–21 2077 League not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
44 2021–22 2078 Machhindra Football Club (2) Trinidad and Tobago Jomoul Francois[a]
Cameroon Messouke Oloumou
(7 goals)
45 2023 2079 Church Boys United Nigeria Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals)
2024 2081 League not held

Championships by team

Club Winners Winning Seasons
Manang Marshyangdi Club 8 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2018–19
Ranipokhari Corner Team 6 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979, 1981–82, 1984
Nepal Police F.C.[b] 5 1955–56, 1956–57, 2006–07, 2010, 2011
New Road Team 4 1960–61, 1962–63, 1978, 1995
Three Star Club 1997, 1998, 2004, 2012–13
Mahabir Club 3 1954–55, 1966–67, 1969–70
Sankata Boys Club 1980, 1983, 1985
Annapurna Club 2 1977, 1982
Deurali Club 1968–69, 1970–71
Machhindra Football Club 2019–20, 2020–21
Nepal Army F.C.[c] 1 1957–58
Bidya Byama 1963–64
Boys Union Club 1975
Friends Union 1967–68
Sunakhari Athletic Club 1976
Church Boys United 2023

A-Division clubs in Asia

Martyr's Memorial A-Division clubs participated in the AFC President's Cup from its foundation in 2005 till its dissolution in 2014. Since 2015, the winners of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League qualify for the AFC Cup. A-Division clubs could also qualify for the Asian Club Championship before 2004.[citation needed]

AFC President's Cup

See also: AFC President's Cup
Season Team Position
2005 Three Star Club Semi-Final
2006 Manang Marshyangdi Club 3rd in Group Stage
2007 Mahendra Police Club Runner-up
2008 Nepal Police F.C. Semi-Final
2009 Nepal Police F.C. 4th in Group Stage
2010 New Road Team 3rd in Group Stage
2011 Nepal Police F.C. 4th in Group Stage
2013 Three Star Club 3rd in Final Stage
2014 Manang Marshyangdi Club 2nd in Final Stage

AFC Cup

See also: AFC Cup
Season AFC Cup Position
2015 Manang Marshyangdi Club DNP
2019 Manang Marshyangdi Club 4th in Group Stage
2021 Nepal Army F.C. Preliminary round 2
2022 Machhindra F.C. Preliminary round 1
2023–24[6] Machhindra F.C. Preliminary round 2

Asian Club Championship

See also: Asian Club Championship
Season AFC Cup Position
1985–86 New Road Team 5th in Qualifiers
1987 Manang Marshyangdi Club 4th in Qualifiers
1990–91 Ranipokhari Corner Team 3rd in Qualifiers
1996–97 New Road Team First Round
1997–98 Mahendra Police Club First Round
1998–99 Three Star Club First Round

Notes

  1. ^ Despite Jomoul Francois and Messouke Oloumou both scoring 7 goals each, ANFA awarded the title of top goalscorer to Jamoul Francois, as he scored the goals in less time.[5]
  2. ^ Formerly known as Mahendra Police Club. Championships for Police Force in 1955–56 and 1956–57 also included[citation needed]
  3. ^ Championship for Army XI in 1957–58 also included

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] Archived 2017-07-19 at the Wayback Machine at ANFA Official Site
  2. ^ [2] at FIFA Official Site, National League Table 2015
  3. ^ "Nepal - List of Champions and Cup Winners". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Nepal 2010". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Sunil Bal Player of the Tournament, Satdobato Fair Play team". All Nepal Football Association. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ Nalwala, Ali Asgar (17 August 2023). "AFC Cup 2023-24 football: Mohun Bagan beat Machhindra 3-1 to march into playoffs". Olympics.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.