Kathmandu, May 9 -- The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) opened the training session of head coach Nabin Neupane's preliminary squad for the SAFF Women's Championship to the media on Friday morning. But while journalists were allowed inside the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, the players themselves were kept silent.

"Please note that players will not be available for interviews," ANFA said in a notice circulated on Thursday evening. Only the coaching staff and team officials were permitted to speak.

The restriction was not due to a tight training schedule. Nor was it meant to protect preparations. It reflected a deeper discomfort-ANFA did not want players addressing questions about the ongoing power struggle between the association and ...