By Rick M 
The fans in Dhangadhi are jubilant and happy for their city to be set to host matches in the Second season of the Nepal Super League (NSL). The mega football event starting from today in Kathmandu will be the prestigious tournament featuring Dhangadhi FC also in a pool of nine teams of the country. The locals are looking forward to the first local league match, which will be played this Sunday against Birgunj United.
The second-placed team of the last season, Dhangadhi FC, has also been preparing for the tournament. The team management also has faith in the current squad comprising Aashish Chaudhary, the rising national team member; Kritish Ratna Chhunju, the talented Midfielder; and Olawale Afeez, the top Scorer of the 2023 Martyrs Memorial A-Division League. This has, however, instilled a lot of hope in the players’ performance in this year’s NSL with the inclusion of local talents together with experienced players.
The return of the NSL to Dhangadhi has brought back the fun to football among the city’s youthful voluteers. Football academies in some local clubs have revealed that more young players are joinning the academies with many dream of playing for their home-town club in the national league one day. It also becomes the reason why grassroots football in the region is believed to be boosted by the tournament.
It is also believed that economic prospects upon will also trickle to Dhangadhi as a result of it hosting championship NSL matches. As locals prepare for a new season, hotels, restaurants and other companies expect new customers – players and teams from other parts of Nepal. The city’s tourism promotion agency is to develop advertising campaigns through which to market Dhangadhi’s unique selling proposition to visitors during the tournament.
The Dhangadhi stadium, which will be hosting the matches, has also upgraded to NSL standard with the playing area, the spectators’ gallery, and other amenities for the players in sections of improvement. Local authorities have also improved measures of security and traffic flow to allow efficient working during days of matches. All these upgrades are believed to set a long-time precedent for the development of sports facilities in the city.
Papen Maid and other related community engagement activities have been completed in relation to the NSL matches. A team of players from Dhangadhi FC will be engaging the school children in football clinics to popularize the sport and exercise to the youngsters. The club has also engaged with charitable organizations within the region through which social causes within the region will be spread during the occasion of the tournament.
As such, the high coverage of Dhangadhi during the NSL is regarded as an advantage to present the city development and prospect to the national level. Hitting the right notes, local officials expect the positive image to draw investors and tourists to the region for business and leisure after the last toot of the bugle of the tournament.
However, football fans in Dhangadhi especially look forward to seeing some of the best Nepali players. Players in the NSL will soon be able to see national team stars alongside talented foreign players, which should inspire the development of younger local footballers. Most regard the tournament as a foundation for Dhangadhi’s growth as one of the premier centers for football in Nepal.
While indeed there exist preconceptions, nobody can deny the fact that there is a great level of pride as the city sets to stage its first NSL match. Dhangadhi to compete in the league is considered a sign of the city’s increased recognition in national sports. Protesters are also expected to paint the stadium and shout nice things as they show support for their beloved Dhangadhi FC.
The return of the NSL back to Dhangadhi is a symbol of more than just football. It has the potential for the city to show progress and have big dreams. All soccer fans and Nepalese spectators are now looking forward to Dhangadhi FC, a team that wants to represent itself in a national tournament in which it desires to be a part. They are also hopeful of finding success as they begin the upcoming weeks with the hope of expanding their sporting reputation for this active city in the western region of Nepal.