Franchise league plays an important role in sports development, says Minister Pokharel
Speaking at the NSL season announcement event held in Jhamsikhel on Sunday, Minister Pokharel said franchise leagues are playing a crucial role in strengthening sports in Nepal.
KATHMANDU: Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel has expressed confidence that the upcoming edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL) will help take Nepali football to a new level, highlighting the growing role of franchise-based competitions in sports development.
Speaking at the NSL season announcement event held in Jhamsikhel on Sunday, Minister Pokharel said franchise leagues are playing a crucial role in strengthening sports in Nepal.
He cited the example of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), noting its positive impact on the development of cricket in the country, and expressed hope that NSL could deliver similar results for football.
He stressed that private sector involvement in sports in Nepal has historically been limited, but franchise leagues are now successfully connecting corporate investment with sports development. “Private sector participation is essential for the growth of sports,” he said, adding that the government is committed to moving forward in partnership with private stakeholders.
The minister also made it clear that the government will avoid political interference in sports administration while focusing on increasing investment and strengthening grassroots athlete development.
Emphasizing long-term planning, he said sports and education should be integrated within a single framework to nurture athletes from the school level.
Highlighting that Nepal has around 27,000 schools, he called for increased investment in school sports infrastructure.
“Future athletes are already in our schools,” he said, adding that training and investment must begin there. He also informed that the government is working through a task force to incorporate sports into the national curriculum.
Minister Pokharel further pointed to the disciplined training systems of institutions like the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force as examples of effective athlete development models.
He suggested that similar structured systems could be introduced in schools, which could significantly improve Nepali sports within the next 10–15 years.
He also urged all stakeholders, including the All Nepal Football Association, to work collectively for the advancement of Nepali football.
