- ‘Football is worth giving it all’ — the origin story of Bikram Lama
- Bikram Lama: The Rise and The Redemption
- Bikram Lama and tales of resilience
“The moment we arrived; we could sense the happiness all around. Fans followed us from the airport to the hotel. I assured myself that I can be proud of what I’ve done, no matter what tomorrow brings to me.”
Emotions begin building up around Bikram Lama as he attempts to describe, what he calls, his best moment with the Nepali National Team.
We’re talking about a time when Nepali football finally started to look as if it was rebuilding itself after a hectic 2015. The national team saw some vital changes after numerous off-field drama: youngsters began filling in and proved to be good enough to gel up with the senior squad members. Nepal lost no competitive fixture in 2016 and won three tournaments that it played – Bangabandu Cup, AFC Solidarity Cup, and a gold in the 2016 South Asian Games. The most special one was, of course, the glimmering 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup win.
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“I cried tears of joy and realization – joy of making everyone happy and realization of what I decided for myself back then was finally coming alive.”
However, it wasn’t the first time Bikram Lama felt something so exuberant. The moment of realization and first ecstatic experience, coincidentally, dates back to the same event in 2009.
The start of redemption for one of Nepal’s most decorated midfielders dates back precisely to the 14th of March 2009 – the day Nepal’s first team played against Srilanka. The match promised to be more than a normal one – the title decider of Prime Minister’s Invitational ANFA Cup saw the home side compete and ultimately, secure the glory. After a fierce competition resulting in a goalless open play, Nepal-A managed to walk out victorious on penalties.
Dasharath Rangashala went frantic. The crowd took over the turf; people started to look for players to exchange hugs and happiness. Many thought this could be a resurgent moment for Nepali football, especially after the political turmoil that led to the decline at the turn of the century. From the moment Biraj Maharjan scored Nepal’s last spot-kick, everyone, including Bikram Lama, cried tears of joy.
However, Bikram Lama was one of those fans who witnessed the glory from stands, not one of those players that made it happen on the pitch. Scenes in Dasharath Stadium would evoke a career-defining decision for Lama, who was sidelined due to a major back injury a year ago.
“I cried. Seeing my friends, ones that I shared my meals with, bring the cup home and give everyone a moment to cherish brought me tears.” Lama tells Colors of The Game. “Happiness also came with a spark of motivation, you know. I was 20 back then and had dedicated more than two-thirds of my young life to football. Although a part of me thought it was all over after the back injury, the other part of me took that moment to return back to football.” Bikram Lama continues, “I remember asking myself ‘Shall I let this injury get the better of me?’” and immediately reaching a conclusion – “No.”
Fast forward to 11 years, Bikram Lama has established himself as one immovable defensive midfielder, at the national and international levels. From meticulous tackles to fault-less balls that dissect opposition lines – Lama continues to be a constant for his beloved nation and Three Star Club.
Lama’s career, on its own, sounds nothing less than a hero’s origin story. After realizing he had the zeal and the willingness to put in every bit of work required to pursue a career in football, the sport cemented a permanent stature in Lama’s heart. In other words, the bond was meant to be established and exist from a very early age.
“I used to set-off early from school for the Under-14 selection. They used to set-up selection sessions at Maharajgunj, and I always used to go and return [Chyasal] by foot. It never felt like a liability for me, especially since I was getting to play football and progress every day,” Lama remembers his early days as he continues. “I ate with my pocket money, normally Rs. 5 on the way back home. As they say, you do not get tired when you play football when you’re young. You just sleep well at night.”
After continuing to thrive and play regularly from a young age, Lama found a way to break through. The 2006 ANFA Academy batch consisted of players that decorate the national team till today, with the likes of Biraj Maharjan, Bharat Khawas, Kiran Chemjong, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Rabin Shrestha, and Bikram Lama sharing the same space in the Under-17 camp.
Then came the decision day, the day when ANFA finally said goodbye to its U-17 players for them to find and establish themselves into a professional career path each year. Having just completed the highly rated camp in Nepal, it wasn’t tough for Bikram Lama to find a club, that too before turning 17.
“Jawalakhel Youth Club came for me in no time, and it was a no brainer for me. I immediately said yes.” Lama was a regular at Jawalakhel Youth Club’s “Soccer Group Training Center”, a facility designed for young players, and it was here that he trained every day. Without any delay, Lama debuted in the 2006 edition of Martyr’s Memorial League, at 17, and soon established himself as a starter. After a promising individual reason prompting a quick success, Three Star Club came knocking for the young midfielder. The deal was done, Three Star made a move to sign a young and regular midfielder in 2007.
The start of the 2007 season saw a massive shift in Three Star Club’s roster. After several outgoing transfers, Three Star now had a relatively young line-up that consisted of senior players like Pradip Maharjan, Yugal Kishor Rai, Rajesh Shahi, and Bishan Gauchan to take the lead.
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Amidst the chaos at Three Star, an 18-year-old Bikram Lama struggled to keep his mark on the team. After just two months at the new club, Lama suffered a back-injury training for his first official tournament as a Three Star Club player. The injury appeared to be a minor one to everyone, including Lama, at first glance. Despite engaging himself in numerous rehabilitation routines and minor exercises for almost a year, the pain only grew and diminished Lama’s hopes of continuing his success at a bigger club.
“That phase was so difficult for me to deal with. It was utterly painful when I realized I was being pushed away from something that I loved doing so much,” Bikram Lama talks his way through his first “real” struggle. “I’d heard about injuries like those, and it felt like I could never be able to play again.”
For things to change and to revive a young blooming career, a tough, yet a decisive move had to be made. After a major surgery a year later, everything became stellar, as if time had paused for Lama. The recovery was slow, and the chances of him hitting the pitch anytime soon were getting thinner as days passed. On the other side of things, his colleagues from ANFA’s U-17 Camp were making their mark at the national level and were slowly displacing some widely known names to climb up to the national team.
Then came March 2009. Bikram Lama was nowhere to be seen in Nepali football’s map, having missed football more than a season by now. However, the passion and love for Nepalese football carried him to Dasharath Stadium, to see and cheer for his friends who were fighting for the glory. The first career-defining moment, the moment he decided to continue striving for his dream and donning the jersey to be a part of a similar feat someday.
“Everything was going wrong, and not being able to make it to the level that my friends were made me emotional every time I thought about it. However, the road only leads when you actually take it, and the moment that I realized football is worth fighting injuries and giving it my all, I decided to pursue it.”
And rest, as they say, is history.