At long last, Bangladesh ended its long wait to win the men’s Under-20 South Asian Federation Football Championship in an emphatic manner at the cost of Nepal in Kathmandu recently.

Contrary to expectations, they outplayed the hosts and were run away winners much to the disappointment of the partisan crowd. The final match was a testament to Bangladesh’s sheer dominance as they secured a convincing 4-1 victory. The winners had lost to Nepal in the group match but turned things around dramatically to win the championship. They put together a consistent, aggressive and well coordinated performance to outrival and exact revenge on the opposition.

In the last- four Bangladesh had upset the applecart by prevailing over defending champions India to set up a second meeting with Nepal. No doubt, they defied odds,stuck to their winning strategies,turned the tables and proved themselves worthy winners ultimately. For Nepal it was a familiar tale of missed opportunity.They had the momentum, home field advantage and psychological edge over the opponent going into the final.They were in a great position to end the championship drought. They faced high expectations and were under some sort of pressure to deliver the result when it mattered most.

They had to stay absolutely focussed,determined to achieve their goal and needed a winning performance. That did not happen.The home team made a hash of the final by performing well below expectations, making too many unforced errors, lacking consistency and cohesion,leaving gaping holes in the defense and failing to rise to the occasion. The downfall was their own making as they took a brutal tumble on the last hurdle.They reached the final with an unbeaten run and were favorites to win the championship. More importantly, they were able to drive fans and supporters' interest in the final who truly believed their team had a realistic shot at the title.

In defeat partisan supporters were jolted, frustrated, disappointed and dejected at the end of the day. No one disputes the fact that a clear chance to redeem themselves was squandered by Team Nepal. Players' emotional outbursts suggest that they were overwhelmed by the setback. Understandably, having come tantalizingly close to crown themselves champions but finishing second best is traumatizing and devastating. Undoubtedly,the team fell well short of achieving their goal.They have to learn and grow from setbacks moving forward. Players have to remain committed, motivated, disciplined, focussed and resolute.

It is a talented outfit capable of dishing out a much better performance. When all is said and done,it comes down to fully unleashing the team’s potential.However, it will require a conducive football environment in terms of governance, management, grass roots football,infrastructure, international exposure,training facilities and professionalism. Unfortunately, in the current context of Nepal football,aspiring footballers seeking a professional career in football are faced with a multitude of problems largely because of the All Nepal Football Association’s ineffective governance and mismanagement.

By Sushil Thapa,Fairfax,VA, USA