Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Organising bodyANFA
Founded1954 (1954)
CountryNepal
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toMartyr's Memorial B-Division 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 within the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with every team playing each other 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 chance to compete 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.

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
Nepal APF Club Kathmandu (Halchowk) 8th
Nepal Police Club 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
Tribhuvan 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.SeasonB.S.Winner Top scorer
11954–552011Mahabir Club
21955–562012Police Force
31956–572013Police Force (2)
41957–582014Army XI
1958–602015–16League not held
51960–612017New Road Team
61962–632019New Road Team (2)
71963–642020Bidya Byama
1964–662021–22League not held
81966–672023Mahabir Club (2)
91967–682024Friends Union
101968–692025Deurali Club
111969–702026Mahabir Club (3)
121970–712027Deurali Club (2)
131971–722028Ranipokhari Corner Team
141972–732029Ranipokhari Corner Team (2)
151973–742030Ranipokhari Corner Team (3)
1619752032Boys Union Club
1719762033Sunakhari Athletic Club
1819772034Annapurna Club
1919782035New Road Team (3)
2019792036Ranipokhari Corner Team (4)
2119802037Sankata Boys Club
221981–822038Ranipokhari Corner Team (5)
2319822039Annapurna Club (2)
2419832040Sankata Boys Club (2)
2519842041Ranipokhari Corner Team (6)
2619852042Sankata Boys Club (3)
2719862042–43Manang Marsyangdi Club
2819872043–44Manang Marsyangdi Club (2)
19882045League not held
2919892046Manang Marsyangdi Club (3)
1990–19942047–51League not held
3019952052New Road Team (4)
19962053League not held
3119972054Three Star Club
3219982055Three Star Club (2)
19992056League not held
3320002057Manang Marsyangdi Club (4) Nepal Nirajan Rayamajhi (15 goals)
2001–022058–59League not held
342003–042060Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) Nepal Surendra Tamang (15 goals)
3520042061Three Star Club (3) Nepal Basanta Thapa (20 goals)
362005–062062Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) Nigeria Junior Obagbemiro
Nepal Rishi Rai
(27 goals)
372006–072063Mahendra Police Club (3) Nepal Anil Gurung (31 goals)
2007–092064–66League not held due to conflicts between ANFA and the clubs[4]
3820102066–67Nepal Police Club (4) Nepal Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals)
3920112068Nepal Police Club (5) Nepal Ju Manu Rai (21 goals)
2011–12 2068 Nepal National League was held instead
402012–132069Three Star Club (4) Nepal Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals)
412013–142070Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) Nepal Karna Limbu (11 goals)
2014–152071Nepal National League was held instead
2015–182072–74League 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)
2020–212077League not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
44 2021–22 2078 Machhindra Football Club (2) Trinidad and Tobago Jomoul Francois[lower-alpha 1]
Cameroon Messouke Oloumou
(7 goals)
45 2023 2079 Church Boys United Nigeria Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals)

Championships by team

Club Winners Winning Seasons
Manang Marshyangdi Club81986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2018–19
Ranipokhari Corner Team61971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979, 1981–82, 1984
Nepal Police Club[lower-alpha 2]51955–56, 1956–57, 2006–07, 2010, 2011
New Road Team41960–61, 1962–63, 1978, 1995
Three Star Club1997, 1998, 2004, 2012–13
Mahabir Club31954–55, 1966–67, 1969–70
Sankata Boys Club1980, 1983, 1985
Annapurna Club21977, 1982
Deurali Club1968–69, 1970–71
Machhindra Football Club2019–20, 2020–21
Nepal Army Club[lower-alpha 3]11957–58
Bidya Byama1963–64
Boys Union Club1975
Friends Union1967–68
Sunakhari Athletic Club1976
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.

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 Club Semi-Final
2009 Nepal Police Club 4th in Group Stage
2010 New Road Team 3rd in Group Stage
2011 Nepal Police Club 4th in Group Stage
2013 Three Star Club 3rd in Final Stage
2014 Manang Marshyangdi Club 2nd in Final Stage

AFC Cup

Season AFC Cup Position
2015 Manang Marshyangdi Club DNP
2019 Manang Marshyangdi Club 4th in Group Stage
2021 Tribhuvan 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

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
  3. Championship for Army XI in 1957–58 also included

See also

References

  1. Archived 2017-07-19 at the Wayback Machine at ANFA Official Site
  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.
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