Bikram Lama: The pillar of national football team

Published On: December 9, 2016 09:12 AM NPT By: Prabin Bikram Katwal  | @prabinLFC


KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Majority of the football lovers' favorite players are strikers or someone who scores goals. Just like strikers, holding midfielder is equally important in modern football. The role of international stars like Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Kante is enough to shed light on the importance of midfielders. 

In the same way, Bikram Lama has been a key player of the Nepali national football team that has won three consecutive trophies, including Bangabandhu Cup, South Asian Games and AFC Solidarity Cup this year. 

Former head coach of the national team Bal Gopal Maharjan points Bikram as a technical player. “He has very good techniques, he is good with the ball and understands tactical part of the game very well. He adjusts well with teammates and fits in any coach's philosophy and playing system,” said Maharjan, under whom Nepal won Bangabandhu Gold Cup. 

The 26 year-old holding midfielder had played for whole 90 minutes without being substituted in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup and men's football of South Asian Games held in Bangladesh and India respectively this year. He was substituted only in one match during the Solidarity Cup, that too in the last 10 minutes against Brunei as a cautious approach of the team because he was yellow carded and head coach Gyotoku Koji wanted to save him for the semifinal. This shows the importance of Bikram for the national team and how far he has moved since former national coach Jack Stefanowski brought him into the team three years ago. 

“I am very thankful to Jack because he gave me a chance to prove my worth. He didn't just give breakthrough to me but also helped become a proper holding midfielder. He taught me the tactical part of the game which has been very useful till date,” said Bikram, crediting Stefanowski for developing him as specific positioned player in central midfield. 

Raju Kaji Shakya, assistant to the national team head coach Gyotoku Koji praises the Three Star captain's disciplined game in central midfield. “Besides being a hardworking player, Bikram has good ability to read the game as a central midfielder. His interception to prevent the opponents from making moves is always crucial for the team,” said Shakya, who guided the national team to gold medal in men's football during SAG earlier this year. 

“Since he used to play as central half in the U-16 team, he has very good defensive quality which he uses while playing as holding midfielder also,” added Shakya, who selected Bikram for ANFA Academy back in 2004 and coached him.

Shakya also has suggestions for Bikram to sharpen his game. “Bikram should work on his offensive part. If he adds to attacking qualities which he slightly lacks at this moment, he can be a complete midfielder,” said Shakya.

Not just for the national team, he is equally influential player and a leader for the national league champion Three Star. He captained the Patan-based outfit to the final rounds of AFC Cup 2017 Qualifiers. Under his captainship, Three Star defeated Erchim FC of Mongolia and Nagaworld FC of Cambodia in the play-off qualifiers held in Mongolian four months back and qualified for the playoff rounds of the qualifiers of the second-tier Asian club competition. The title of Bordoloi Trophy in India was another achievement for Bikram this year with Three Star. 

Since Bikram is enjoying fine form for the national team at the moment, he shared how current head coach Gyotoku Koji has expressed satisfaction over his performances. “Head coach Koji is very happy with my recent performances especially with the way I played in Solidarity Cup. After a charity game against visiting Japanese team (where he was declared man-of-the-match), he talked with me for half an hour. He praised my performance and pointed out how I can sharpen my game,” added Bikram. 

Bikram, who has won 16 caps for the national team, comes from ANFA Academy after learning footballing skills for two years (2004-2006 AD) along with other members of current national team including Biraj Maharjan, Rabin Shrestha, Kiran Limbu and Bharat Khawas.   

He was selected for ANFA Academy after his impressive run in the District Development Committee's President Cup U-14 in 2003 where he had represented Lalitpur district. Altogether seven players were selected for ANFA Academy course. 

Bikram, who used to play as defender for ANFA Academy team, represented Nepal in Subroto Cup, AFC U-16 and 17 championships. 

After being released from ANFA academy in 2006, he signed with A Division outfit Jawalakhel Youth Club though he had initially agreed to sign for Sankata. 

However his journey to professional football career received early setback as he got injured picking up a collarbone fracture after playing just five matches in 2006 league and was ruled out for one month. But he came back strongly and played the remaining nine matches and helped Jawalakhel avoid relegation. 

Three Star signed him the following season after his impressive run in 2007. Three Star's midfield was studded with experienced players during that time including Pradip Maharjan, Rajesh Shahi and Sandip Rai but Bikram decided to move to one of the biggest domestic clubs thinking that he would learn from those players. 

“I was pretty sure that I won't get playing time but my target was to learn from them during training, which would help me in my future career,” said Bikram.

However, in the early days at Three Star, he once again suffered another injury. This time, it was a back problem for which he needed surgery that kept him out of football for three years. “That was the hardest time for me in my playing career. I was so frustrated and my mind was blank,” said Bikram.

After completing the rehabilitation process, he started light training on his own at Chyasal ground, from where he had started learning football. 

After regaining confidence from self training, he was ready to resume his playing career and this time his old club Jawalakhel brought him back to domestic football. He played the 2009/10 league with Jawalakhel, missed just one match (due to double yellow card) throughout the league and impressed everyone including his former club, Three Star. He was approached by Three Star again and he re-signed with it in 2010 as he had unfinished business with the Patan-based side. 

Since the old guards like Sandip Rai, Bijay Gurung had joined Manang Marsyangdi, Three Star was in need of replacement and Bikram fitted in the role. However, Bikram was eclipsed by the likes of Yogesh Gurung and Ranjit Shrestha and he didn't get regular playing time. He was in and out from the team until the Bhim Narayan Gold Cup held in Dhankuta in 2010 where he scored four goals to become the highest goal scorer of the tournament. 

“Bhim Narayan Gold Cup was the turning point for me in Three Star career. From that moment, I haven't looked back,” said Bikram. 

When Three Star finished in third position in the league in 2011 under Megh Raj KC, Bikram was already an important member of the team missing just one match throughout the campaign. In 2012, which saw Three Star lift domestic league title under coach Pradip Humagain, Bikram had delivered impressive performance which strengthened his place in the playing XI.  He played all the league matches that season. 

In 2013 league as well, Bikram featured in all the league matches in its third place finish. In 2014/15, Bikram was a key member of the title winning Three Star team.  

National team has benefited from the maturity of Bikram, who has played an important role in the recent success at the international stage. 



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