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.
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| Organising body | ANFA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1954 |
| Country | Nepal |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 14 (currently) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League |
| International cup(s) | AFC Cup SAFF Club Championship |
| Current champions | Church Boys United (1st title) |
| Most championships | Manang Marsyangdi (8 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Santosh Sahukhala (104 goals) |
| TV partners | Space 4K Television (YouTube) |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2023 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, 16 clubs have won the title in 44 tournaments. Manang Marshyangdi Club have the most (8 titles) under their belt. Machhindra Football Club 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) |  Nirajan Rayamajhi (15 goals) |
| 2001–02 | 2058–59 | League not held | ||
| 34 | 2003–04 | 2060 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) | Surendra Tamang (15 goals) |
| 35 | 2004 | 2061 | Three Star Club (3) | Basanta Thapa (20 goals) |
| 36 | 2005–06 | 2062 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) |  Junior Obagbemiro Rishi Rai(27 goals) |
| 37 | 2006–07 | 2063 | Mahendra Police Club (3) | 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 Club (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals) |
| 39 | 2011 | 2068 | Nepal Police Club (5) | Ju Manu Rai (21 goals) |
| 2011–12 | 2068 | Nepal National League was held instead | ||
| 40 | 2012–13 | 2069 | Three Star Club (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals) |
| 41 | 2013–14 | 2070 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) | 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) | Afeez Olawale Oladipo Bharat Khawas Ranjit Dhimal (7 goals) |
| 43 | 2019–20 | 2076 | Machhindra Football Club | Aashish Lama (9 goals) |
| 2020–21 | 2077 | League not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 44 | 2021–22 | 2078 | Machhindra Football Club (2) |  Jomoul Francois[lower-alpha 1] Messouke Oloumou(7 goals) |
| 45 | 2023 | 2079 | Church Boys United | Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals) |
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 Club[lower-alpha 2] | 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 Club[lower-alpha 3] | 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.
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
- 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]
- Formerly known as Mahendra Police Club. Championships for Police Force in 1955–56 and 1956–57 also included
- Championship for Army XI in 1957–58 also included
See also
References
- Archived 2017-07-19 at the Wayback Machine at ANFA Official Site
- at FIFA Official Site, National League Table 2015
- "Nepal - List of Champions and Cup Winners". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- "Nepal 2010". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- "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.
- 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.
External links
- FIFA.com – Football at the heart of the Himalayas
- Martyr's Memorial A-Division League on Facebook
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