No basic diet for young ANFA athletes

Young athletes at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) hostel in Lalitpur are struggling with inadequate nutrition, a stark contrast to the supportive environment they were meant to find. Nineteen children, relocated after a devastating landslide in September 2024 that claimed the lives of six of their peers, are now subsisting on a meager diet of rice, lentils, and plain biscuits. This drastic reduction in food, which previously included protein-rich items like meat, milk, and eggs, is taking a visible toll on their energy levels and morale.

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We used to provide them with meat daily. Now, these children have to go to their school and sleep after eating only rice and lentils, not even vegetables.

The crisis stems from ANFA's financial paralysis, caused by a FIFA suspension and a subsequent directive from the National Sports Council (NSC) to halt all financial activities. This has led to suppliers refusing to provide goods on credit, leaving the hostel unable to procure adequate food supplies. ANFA officials cite these administrative hurdles as the primary reason for the current situation, with the spokesperson suggesting questions about the children's welfare should be directed to the government.

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The breakfast menu had items like milk, eggs, cornflakes, muesli and sausage, among other protein-rich items. The menu has been stripped down to black tea and plain biscuits for almost a month now.

These young athletes, selected through ANFA's grassroots program, are not only dealing with the trauma of losing friends and their former hostel but are now facing undernourishment in a facility meant to nurture their dreams. The lack of basic athletic nutrition, coupled with the administrative gridlock involving ANFA, the NSC, and FIFA, has created an atmosphere of uncertainty that extends far beyond the football field. Their current predicament raises serious questions about the welfare of aspiring athletes caught in the crossfire of organizational disputes.

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Following the suspension, the National Sports Council issued a directive, instructing us to halt all activities and financial transactions. As a result, our usual vendors, including suppliers like Salesberry, have stopped providing goods on credit.