Kathmandu, Nepal — Simon Grayson, former manager of Preston North End and player for Aston Villa, dey prepare to face his fears as e dey 4,500 miles from home. Dis weekend, two of him former clubs go clash for FA Cup quarter-final, while Grayson dey in charge of Lalitpur City for Nepal Super League season wey start on Saturday.
“The scariest thing be say dem don mention go Everest base camp, wey dey just two-hour helicopter ride away,” Grayson tell BBC Sport from him base for Kathmandu. Dis 55-year-old manager, wey don win promotion four times in him career, talk say, “I no be person wey dey look for thrill or anything like that.”
Grayson has played nearly 800 matches as manager, and dis new challenge for him take am to South Asia as him lead Lalitpur City, defending champions of Nepal Super League. On Sunday, Preston go battle Aston Villa for a chance to make it to Wembley for the semi-finals.
In 2015, Grayson guide Preston enter the Championship, where dem still dey since. Before he become manager, he play for Aston Villa alongside stars like Dwight Yorke and Stan Collymore from 1997 to 1999. “My heart dey for Preston to win, but I also get great memories of my two years for Villa,” he add.
Grayson no don manage for England since November 2021, after he spend 18 months for Bengaluru in the Indian Super League. Him dey keen to make dis journey a life-changing experience. Before he set out to Nepal, he talk to former England cricketer Darren Gough, wey tell am say Kathmandu na place wey go impress am.
“I hope say I go come out of dis experience a better person and coach. I no wan dey look back and dey regret why I no try something,” Grayson explain.
While Grayson dey explore dis new league, football dey popular for Nepal despite the national team ranking 175th by FIFA. The Nepal Super League, wey dey enter him third season, supposed host up to 15,000 fans in stadiums as Grayson’s team dey face Kathmandu Rayzrs for di opening match.
Grayson’s squad get players from different countries like Martinique, Haiti, Bhutan, and Senegal. “Dem go need adapt to my Yorkshire accent,” he joke, adding say him don dey appreciate the kindness of locals and the beauty of the Himalayan landscape.
Three days after him arrive, Grayson participate for Holi, wey celebrate spring and new life by throwing colors for friends and family. He also share some of him fears, like riding cable cars. “I no really look forward to entering cable car, and I no particularly enjoy am,” he confess.
The Nepal Super League season go last just four weeks, with playoff final set for April 26, dat weekend wey FA Cup semi-finals go dey happen. Preston dey sit 14th for Championship, while Aston Villa dey prepare for Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain next month.
“I loved my time at Preston. I had great moments there and won promotion in front of about 50,000 fans at Wembley,” Grayson reminisce. He still believe say Villa fans dey burst for success as dem never win any major trophy since 1996.
Grayson express excitement for the potential success under Unai Emery, say, “I don dey impressed with wetin him don do. No disrespect to Preston, but winning the FA Cup fit be big chance for Villa this season.”
As dem prepare for the match at Deepdale, Grayson dey wonder if he go fit catch the action live on TV. “I still dey adjust to the time difference. We dey five hours and 45 minutes ahead. But because the match dey early, I fit watch am,” he say, ending with the hope of no missing the action due to training the next morning.
