Phapla to be developed as an international-level cricket stadium and sports village: Former Minister Ale

Kailali, December 21: Prem Bahadur Ale, leader of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and former Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has expressed his commitment to developing the Phapla sports ground in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-3, Kailali, into an international-level cricket stadium and sports village.

Speaking at a welcome program organized by the Phapla Sports Club today, leader Ale stated that Phapla ground would be developed into an international cricket stadium and a multi-purpose sports village with modern infrastructure to establish Dhangadhi as a city of cricket.

He mentioned that special priority has been given to this sector because sports development makes the youth disciplined, capable, and self-reliant.

He said, "Dhangadhi is becoming known as a city of cricket. To further strengthen this identity, I will take all necessary initiatives to develop Phapla sports ground into an international-level cricket stadium and sports village."

Leader Ale, who has already registered his candidacy from Kailali Constituency No. 5 for the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5, stated that alongside the overall development of the Kailali region, sports would be kept as a main priority in his election commitment.

Mentioning the lack of sports infrastructure in Sudurpashchim Province, he expressed the view that the construction of international-level structures would create an environment for organizing national and international competitions.

He said, "The development of sports, tourism, and physical infrastructure in Kailali and the entire Sudurpashchim region are my top priorities. A bullet fired from a gun and a word spoken from Prem Ale's mouth are the same. I will fulfill what I have spoken."

Stating that sports infrastructure is also linked to the prosperity and identity of the province, leader Ale said it is essential to develop Phapla sports ground into an international-level cricket stadium and sports village. He added that this would create opportunities for local youth and support the promotion of sports tourism.

Speaking at the same program, Ramesh Dhami, former minister and member of the Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly, said that the sports sector of Sudurpashchim would take a historic leap if Phapla ground could be developed into an international cricket stadium and sports village.

He mentioned that leader Ale has both the capability and experience to fulfill what he says, expressing confidence that this ambitious plan would succeed.

He said, "If Phapla can be made into an international-level cricket stadium and sports village, it will be a great achievement for the sports sector here. I am confident that Prem Ale can and will do that work."

Similarly, Kishore Shahi, President of Phapla Sports Club, said that players have been deprived of opportunities as there has been no international-level sports stadium in Sudurpashchim Province so far.

He requested the necessary support from the federal and provincial governments to make Phapla sports ground an international-level stadium.

He said, "We do not have an international-level stadium. Even though the players here have talent, there is a lack of infrastructure. I urge former minister Prem Ale to provide all necessary support to make Phapla an international-level stadium."

It is reported that although the provincial and federal governments have allocated budgets for the construction of the sports ground in Phapla several times in the past, the plan could not be implemented as the land acquisition process did not move forward.