Goal after Goal | Maiidan | wavemag.com.np

SWORUP RANJIT

Just a year ago, Bikarna Shrestha was one of those footballers waiting in the reserved bench to get a chance to get on the field and hopefully striking a goal. Now, his name is everywhere in the media as the leading scorer in the country's biggest league, the ongoing Martyr's Memorial Sanmiguel A Division League, with a total of 26 goals.

Representing Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) in the league, Bikarna started his career through Mahabir Club three years ago. "I was invited by the club's coach Diwakar Ghale after seeing my performance at the C Division League in 2004," he recalls. But it wasn't the first time he played professional football. "I started to play while in school (LRI) and also represented Bhaktapur in Nagarpalika Football, a district-level tournament held in Hetauda in 2000," he reveals.

While at Mahabir Club, Bikarna got a chance to play Birthday Cup Football Tournament 2004 as a midfielder. "I was playing forward before, and that was a little difficult for me," he admits. But it didn't take him long to adapt to the changes as he soon went on to win Best Midfielder in a game played to select new players for Three Star Club in 2004. "And that's when I joined Three Star," he says.

However, things didn't work out as Bikarna had imagined and he had to stay on the bench for a whole year. "I would practice for the matches, but wouldn't get a chance to play," he confides.

And he wasn't earning enough either—his monthly salary was just Rs 1500. But things slowly started getting better for him in April when he was introduced to TAC.

"Chakra Tamang, my friend from TAC suggested me to appear in the trial match for the club," he says, "and seeing my performance, I was taken in as a permanent employee."

His regular practices at TAC enhanced his football skills and seven months later, Martyr's Memorial Sanmiguel A Division League has his name flashed all over. His goals helped TAC to remain at the number one position in the ranking. Lieutenant colonel Binod Singh Bista of TAC who's also coaching Bikarna says, "He has the ability to make a goal from anywhere on the ground." But Bikarana feels he is better at shooting from outside the D Area. "It's actually a difficult thing to make a goal because the opponents try every possible way to check it," he adds.

The 21-year-old has set a target of 30 goals in the ongoing league and is hopeful that he would indeed turn it true. If Anil Gurung, his close competitor of Manang Marshyangdi Club who is one goal behind him slows down, Bikarna has a chance to be the Highest Scorer and win a motorbike. He'll also have a chance to represent the country at the AFC President Cup to be held this year in Pakistan. "I am hopeful that I can help my club win the league," he says. With the league in its final round ending in the first week of March, Bikarna's determination might just find him running round the field during the finals as the fans cheer Goaaaaaaaal! We wish him all the best.