Panchayat veteran to lead monarchy restoration drive
Nabaraj Subedi, a Panchayat-era leader who also is the coordinator of the recently-formed Joint People’s Movement Committee for the restoration of the monarchy, announced that he will no longer remain a general member of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Eighty-six years old Subedi, who is regarded as a close ally of former King Gyanendra Shah, made this statement during a press conference following a gathering of pro-monarchy supporters in Kathmandu on Monday. “I will no longer be a general member of the RPP starting today. I am working toward bringing back the monarchy,” Subedi declared. He stressed that political parties should work together to run the state effectively. Subedi elaborated that the ‘New Understanding’ is a concept where the monarchy would serve as a symbol of national peace, stability, social harmony, religion, culture, tradition, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He called the political parties to address this proposal promptly, warning that neglecting it would not be in line with Nepal’s past movements for change. In a statement, Subedi emphasized that if pro-monarchy agendas were misunderstood or misinterpreted, it would come at a high cost. His demands include the restoration of the constitutional monarchy, re-establishment of the Hindu kingdom, the abolition of federalism, anti-corruption measures and good governance. Drawing from the recent developments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Syria, Subedi expressed concern that suppressing the voices of the people could lead to undesirable circumstances, as seen in those countries. “We want to reiterate that we are proponents of peace and non-violence. We desire a monarchy based on the supremacy of the people. However, if our peaceful stance is seen as a weakness and our agendas are misinterpreted, resulting in major political parties retaliating, the consequences could be severe,” the statement warned. Subedi’s ‘New Understanding’ envisions a peaceful transition through a constitutional monarchy that upholds national unity and integrity. However, the effort to unite former monarchists under a single banner has not made much headway with intense disagreements among them over who should lead the movement. After the former King proposed the leadership of Subedi for the restoration of the monarchy, RPP leadership, the fifth largest party in the Parliament, indicated its rejection. In a central executive committee meeting called by RPP Chair Rajendra Lingden on Sunday, the majority of senior party leaders opposed the 86-year-old Subedi, whom the former king had endorsed.
ANFA appoints Ross as head coach
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has appointed Australian coach Matt Ross as the head coach of the Nepal national football team. Ross will make his debut as Nepal’s head coach in an international friendly against Singapore on March 21. Following this, Nepal will face Malaysia on March 25 in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Although Nepal was originally scheduled to host Malaysia, the match will now be played in Malaysia due to the Dasarath Stadium not meeting international standards. Despite the official announcement of his appointment only 19 days before these crucial matches, Ross had already arrived in Nepal. He expressed his excitement about taking on the role and praised the country’s football environment. “Since arriving in Nepal, I have seen an immense passion for football. I watched the Women’s League, the International Women’s Championship, and the KP Oli Cup. I am excited to start working with the players,” Ross said. “I know many Nepali players have gone to Australia. Coming from Australia myself, I find this an important issue,” he stated. He acknowledged the technical strengths of Nepali players and emphasized the importance of quick preparation for the upcoming matches against Singapore and Malaysia. “Malaysia and Singapore pose tough challenges for us. We have very limited time to prepare, so it is crucial to start training immediately and establish a connection with the players. Despite the challenges, we are ready,” he added. Ross aims to secure points in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and improve Nepal’s footballing standards. He outlined his long-term vision, which includes grassroots development, improving Nepal’s FIFA rankings, and winning the SAFF Championship in both men’s and women’s categories. Calling for support from fans, Ross stated, “Support from the fans will be crucial, and I urge everyone to stand with us.” The 47-year-old Ross holds a UEFA Pro License. In 2020, he served as the assistant coach of the South Korean women’s national team, which reached the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 final, where they lost 3-2 to China. Before his stint in Korea, Ross coached China’s U15 women’s team and worked for four years as a video analyst for the German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt’s women’s team. During his time at the club, Frankfurt won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2015. He later obtained his UEFA Pro License and coached Frankfurt for two years before moving to Sweden’s top-division women’s club Växjö in 2017. From Sweden, he transitioned to China and later to Korea. Most recently, he was an assistant coach at United FC in the UAE. Nepal is placed in Group F alongside Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia in the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Only the group winners will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
