Nepal Football League to begin Falgun 1, four-month home-and-away competition

The first edition of the Nepal Football League, or NFL, will begin on Falgun 1, according to organizers.

The competition will run for about four months, with matches held in a home-and-away format, meaning teams will play on their own ground as well as their opponents'. Organizers said the format was decided based on the availability of stadiums.

Kathmandu Rangers, Lalitpur City, FC Chitwan, Pokhara Thunders, Butwal Lumbini, Dhangadhi FC and Jhapa FC will take part in the league. All seven teams have previously played in the Nepal Super League. Preparations are also underway to add new teams from cities other than these seven to make the competition more competitive.

The league will be run by the NFL itself, which functions as a joint body of the clubs. According to NFL chairperson Kalyan Gurung, an independent committee will be formed to run the league fairly. He said the four-month period also includes preparation time.

Chairperson Gurung said the competition is being launched with a fresh approach. Organizers said the league aims to make Nepali football fully professional and build a footballing environment across the country. The organizers announced the league at an event in Kathmandu today, at the initiative of the clubs themselves.