In a football landscape often dominated by institutional powerhouses and centrally based teams, RS Pokhara Football Club stands as a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance, and purpose can rise from the grassroots. Established in 2019/2020 AD in Hemja, Ward No. 25 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, this club is more than a football team—it is a movement born out of sacrifice, belief, and an unwavering commitment to women’s football in Nepal.
A Vision Beyond the Scoreline
RS Pokhara Football Club was founded with a clear and ambitious vision: to develop women’s football and compete with excellence at both national and international levels. The club’s objectives go far beyond winning matches. It focuses on youth development, discipline, and the long-term educational and professional growth of female players, aiming to build not just athletes, but empowered individuals.
From Qualifiers to A Division: A Historic Milestone
Against all odds, RS Pokhara FC achieved a landmark success in 2082 BS, earning promotion to the A Division through the ANFA Women’s League Qualifiers. This achievement is historic—not only for the club but also for Western Nepal—demonstrating that teams from outside Kathmandu can rise to the highest tiers of Nepali women’s football through sheer determination and collective effort.
The ANFA Women's Championship is kicking off this year from Falgun 1-9 at Tharuhat Stadium in Triyuga Municipality-13, Udaypur District. The competition is a knockout format where the Pokhreli girls will be facing the most successful women's side, APF FC, in their opening match on Falgun 3. The winner will get a direct slot to the semifinals.
A Club Rooted in Community and Inclusion
What truly distinguishes RS Pokhara FC is its deep-rooted connection to the community. The squad represents a diverse geographic footprint, with players coming from Pokhara, Kaski, Lamjung, Myagdi, Syangja, Nawalpur, Kailali, and Hetauda. For many of these players—especially young women from rural villages—this club has become a gateway to opportunity, visibility, and hope.
The club proudly honors the struggles of village daughters who dare to dream beyond traditional boundaries, offering them a platform to showcase their talent at the national level.
Participation, Initiatives, and Innovation
RS Pokhara Football Club has been consistently active in promoting women’s football through participation and organization:
Tournament Participation
- Bhadure Cup
- Puranchaur Cup
- Hemja Cup
- Triveni Cup
- Suryatara Cup
- Jhapa Women’s Gold Cup, where the club represented Western Nepal on a prestigious national stage
Club-Led Initiatives
- Successfully organized five editions of 5-a-side tournaments
- Construction and operation of a Beach Soccer Pitch in Pokhara
- Introduction of Freestyle Football programs
- Organization of Tour the Hemja Cycle Rally, blending sports and community engagement
These initiatives highlight the club’s innovative approach to sports development beyond conventional football structures.
A Struggling Club with a Distinct Identity
RS Pokhara FC is a struggling mofasal club, operating far from the capital and without the backing of departmental or institutional teams. Yet, this is precisely what gives the club its unique identity. It represents Western Nepal, challenges the Kathmandu-centric football culture, and proves that talent and ambition are not confined by geography.
Built on Sacrifice, Sustained by Belief
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of RS Pokhara Football Club is its origin story. This is a club built with money taken from mothers’ waist knots (आमाको पटुकी) and cut from children’s school tiffin expenses, often at the cost of family security and personal risk.
To this day:
- Coaches, managers, physiotherapists, and officials work entirely as volunteers
- Players continue with limited facilities and benefits, yet compete with unmatched morale and commitment
- The club has survived largely through friendship, solidarity, and belief, not financial security
Challenges on the Road to Professionalism
Despite its achievements, the club faces significant structural challenges:
- Lack of sponsorship, with only assurances from local bodies
- Attraction of players toward departmental teams, supported by institutional policies
- Limited interest and support from local and provincial governments
- Difficulty in transitioning into a fully professional, sustainable football institution
Yet, these challenges have not slowed the club’s ambition.
Looking Ahead: A Future Worth Fighting For
RS Pokhara Football Club has a clear roadmap for the future:
- Launching grassroots and academy programs
- Competing in ANFA Championships, National Women’s League, and Super League
- Organizing a national-level Gold Cup tournament at Pokhara Stadium
- Building a professionally managed football institution rooted in sustainability and opportunity
More Than a Club
RS Pokhara Football Club is not just playing football—it is challenging systems, redefining representation, and giving voice to unheard dreams. It is proof that when courage meets community, even the most resource-starved initiatives can rise to national prominence.
This is the story of a club that refuses to give up. This is the story of RS Pokhara Football Club. And this journey has only just begun.
