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| Bangladesh defeat Nepal 4-1 to lift the SAFF U-20 Championship (photo: SAFF Social Media) |
There is lots of sadness, bewilderment and anger across social media on Nepal's 1 - 4 loss to Bangladesh in the finals of the U-20 SAFF Championship. I am at a point where I do not pay much attention to Nepal's youth teams results. Sure - I want Nepal to win. However, win or lose we all know the true realities of youth football in Nepal. While there are some encouraging things happening in the grassroots space, it is bare bones when it comes to organized youth football across the country. A victory in the SAFF U-20 tournament would only have papered over the cracks.
Holding an annual one month long U-18 and U-16 tournament for clubs that completely ignore youth football for the rest of the year or resurrecting the previously failed ANFA Academy model simply does not cut it.
I actually do not blame ANFA for not doing enough. What I blame them for, both at the central and district levels, is creating endless roadblocks for those that are ready to do something. I'm a firm believer that Nepal's football development has to be led by the private sector. Public institutions are too dysfunctional, incompetent and political to get anything done.
To those who doubt the readiness and commitment of the private sector: as a small example, I have around ten ongoing chats on my WhatsApp with different individuals eager to initiate and self-finance youth football related projects. The passion and interest is undeniably there!
