It is becoming more and more likely that foreign players will be decisive in the upcoming Nepal Super League (NSL) 2025. What should be expected is that the foreign players coming to play in this tournament will be of high quality. A 'mini auction' was held on Saturday for the third edition of the competition.

In many ways, it was an opportunity that showed where Nepali domestic football is now, as a mirror. Where men's football really is, it is enough to repeat that 'auction'. It was a 'mini auction' as the name suggests, the number of participants was only 60. Now it has become clear that it will be difficult to get players. 

Maybe the players are numerically, but they don't have the level? A total of 7 teams are participating in this tournament. Most of them had a common goal, to rely on foreign players for goalkeepers. The best goalkeepers available in domestic Nepali football were not sold. 21 of the 60 players participating in the

were 'unsold', the fate of some of them was revealed from the 'Wish List'. First of all, let's go to the name of the main player 'unsold'. No one showed interest in Bharat Khawas, Navyug Shrestha and Vikesh Kuthu, who have been contributing to Nepali domestic football for a long time while playing for the Army.

They were not only 'unsold', but also not on the 'wist list'. In this case, these 3 players will not be seen in the next NSL. Even Vishal Sunar was not sold. If we make a list of 'unsold' other players, it will be long. 

There are 8 such players who can be considered lucky. Out of them 8 players belonged to 'Category A' and they were bid for a maximum of Rs 4 lakh. What that means is, more than one team wants to sign them. Those players were, Manikumar Lama, Dinesh Henjan, Pasang Lama, Ashish Gurung, Abhishek Limbu, Jalepsijung Karki, Sumit Shrestha and Santosh Khatri.

is the captain of defending champions Lalitpur City FC, Anant Tamang. His response to the auction was, 'It seems like we got the team we planned to make. If there were more players in the auction, it would be easier. Now everything will depend on foreign players.

FC Chitwan captain Anjan Bisht's response was more meaningful. He said, "After many players migrated abroad, there were many faces that we don't recognize anymore." Therefore, his request remained, NSL and 'A' Division League must be regular.' 

FC Chitwan's coach Naveen Neupane also admitted that he could not get players of the level he wanted in this auction. But he says, "Luckily, I got a balanced team." I am satisfied with the players I got. Jhapa FC coach Pravesh Katuwal also admitted that he did not get the team he expected. He said, 'It didn't happen as expected.'

The seven teams that will participate in the tournament in March are champions Lalitpur City FC, Kathmandu Razors, Dhangadhi FC, Jhapa FC, FC Chitwan, Pokhara Thunders and Butwal-Lumbini. This is the first time that a 'mini auction' has been organized in Nepali football. A total of 60 players have been placed in the 'Mini Auction'. Among them, there were 15 players of 'Category A' and 45 of 'Category B'. The players who fall into 'Category C' will be decided later through the 'Draft'.

How the team will be will be determined to a large extent after the decision of the 'Category C' players. Each team has 'retained' some players. A total of 21 players were not sold. Now foreign players, Nepalese players abroad and players from 'talent hunt' are still to be selected. After the 'mini auction' the starting composition of all the teams will be like this. Unsold players were selected by the team through the 'Wish List'.

Lalitpur City FC

Anant Tamang, Aditya Shakya, Sanish Shrestha, Yogesh Gurung, Sudeep Gurung, Manikumar Lama, Naveen Lama, Abhishek Waiba, Samit Shrestha, Santosh Khatri.

Kathmandu Razors

Rohan Karki, Kuldeep Karki, Abhishek Baral, Dipesh Gurung, Ashish Chapagain, Dinesh Henjan, Jelepsijung Karki, Kamal Shrestha, Diwakar Chaudhary, Angel Mazharhan.

Dhangadhi FC

Kritisharatna Chunju, Ramchandra Vaji, Pasang Lama, Ashok Khawas, Prashant Laksham, Devendra Tamang, Randeep Poudel, Vivek Poudel, George Prince Karki, Ziarath Sheikh.