Himalayan Sherpa in quarterfinals

SOURCE: REPUBLICA
SOURCE: SANTOSH POKHAREL

POKHARA, Jan 19: Newly promoted Himalayan Shrepa Club started their Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament campaign with a win on Wednesday. Himalayan Sherpa defeated the U-19 team of ANFA Academy 2-0 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

Deepak Rai and Oryek Allan, the new signing of Himalayan Sherpa, scored a goal each during the first half to seal the win. Himalayan Sherpa had signed Ugandan forward Allan on Monday.

Himalayan Sherpa will now take on Three Star Club, the British Gurkha Cup winners, for a place in the last four on Sunday.

Rai, who was adjudged man of the match, opened the scoring for Himalayan Sherpa in the 30th minute when he met a cross of Nabin Neupane. Allan doubled the advantage 13 minutes later in a pass of Jagjeet Shrestha.

Despite coming under pressure from Himalayan Sherpa, who had fielded two foreign players including Tanzanian midfielder Castory D Mumbara in their squad, the young guns of ANFA created a few chances but could not utilize them. Samir Limbu´s strike in the second half could not find the target.

Himalayan Sherpa also squandered some scoring opportunities.

Himalayan Sherpa coach Upendra Man Singh said that the inclusion of two foreigner players made it easy for them to achieve victory. He also pointed out that weak build was a major drawback for their opponents.

ANFA coach Sunil Shrestha commented that his side failed to play up to his expectations. "The players´ slow pace, weak build and lack of match experience were the main causes of the defeat," Shrestha said.

Manang Marshyangdi Club will take on Armed Police Force (APF) on Thursday.

Gurung inspires hosts Sahara to win

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

SANTOSH POKHAREL

POKHARA, Jan 18: Khum Gurung inspired hosts Sahara Club, Pokhara, to a 2-1 win over Dharan Football Club in the Ninth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament that kicked off Tuesday at Pokhara.

Gurung set the pass for the first goals before interval and doubled the advantage after the interval to steer the hosts to the quarterfinal

.
Sahara will now take on the Denzong Boys FC of Sikkim, India, who got direct entry into quarterfinal on Saturday for a semifinal place.

Ezee Collins easily sent the ball past net in the 17th minute to put the host ahead when he met Gurung´s pass. Gurung doubled the advantage in the 58th minute through a brilliant freekick. The visitor cut the deficit in the 74th minute through Prakash Budhatoki who cleverly hit the ball in an open net seeing an advancing custodian of the host.

In the competitive match, Sahara missed a scoring opportunity in the second half when Rajan Adhikari´s shot hit the woodwork. In the same half, Sahara goalie denied Suwarna Limbu´s strike with difficulty.

Despite the team´s victory, hosts coach Kiran Shrestha remained dissatisfied with his sides´ performance. He said that the players could not perform as expected. "We knew Dharan was not a weak team and we had to work hard as the team consists of many players who have already been associated with the first division clubs." Shrestha also said that his side conceded due to wrong judgment of his player.

Shrestha´s counterpart Milan Shrestha lauded his teams´ performance despite the defeat. "Had the boys played in same tune as that of second half from the beginning the result could have been different."

He also said that the early exit of his team from the very first round in all seven editions they participated was a misfortune. "We have won other matches played in Pokhara but in Aaha every time we have exited from the first round," Shrestha said.

Meanwhile, hosts Sahara felicitated Kaski Football Association President Khem Bahadur Gurung for his contribution in the development of football in Kaski.

On Saturday, Himalayan Sherpa Club will take on ANFA U-19. Earlier, Ganesh Thapa, the president of All Nepal Football Association and vice president of Asian Football Confederation inaugurated the tournament.

100th match

The Tuesday´s match between the hosts Sahara Club and Dharan Football Club was the 100th match of the Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament. The 2-1 victory to the hosts in 100th match made it more memorable.

The Aaha Gold known in the first edition by Caravan Gold back in 2002 has been organized each year since. Altogether, 11 matches each are held in both Caravan and Aaha and in each editions of the event until eighth.

In all, 290 goals have been scored so far and Nepal Police Club has scored the highest 51 goals. Police have won 22 among 25 matches and lifted the title for the record five times. They have made it to the final for eight times.

However, Sahara has never made it to the final.

Sahara take on Dharan today

SOURCE: THE HIMALAYAN TIMES

RUP NARAYAN DHAKAL

POKHARA: The ninth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament kicks off with hosts Sahara Club playing against Dharan Football Club in the inaugural match here at the Pokhara Stadium on Tuesday.

The match between Sahara and Dharan will be the 100th match of Aaha Gold Cup, a prestigious tournament held outside the Kathmandu Valley. It would also be the first encounter between these two teams in the tournament. The hosts have made it to the semi-finals twice, while Dharan have failed to yet to make their mark in their all five appearances so far in the tournament.

Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha said they were expecting a good performance from his team this time. “We have a balanced side and we have included two non-Nepali in African Ovey and Ejee Collins,” said the coach. However, he added that they have not taken the Dharan team an easy opponent. Dharan Coach Milan Shrestha also opined they will play to impress the audiences. “We are confident of a good result,” said Shrestha.

In all 12 teams are participating in tournament. For the first time in the tournament history the participating clubs will be provided match money. In every day’s match, both the winning and the losing sides will be provided with Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively as match money.

Other teams in fray for the championship include are five-time champions Nepal Police Club, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club, ANFA U-19 Team, Tribhuvan Army Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Nepal Armed Police Force Club, Nabil Three Star Club and Rupandehi-XI. Denzong Boys of Sikkim and Sahara FC of UK are the foreign invitees in the tournament.

Champions will earn Rs 200,000 while the runners-up will walk away with Rs 100,000. Also, the best player of the tournament will get a Yamaha motorcycle and the best players in four different positions — goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward — and the best coach will get Rs 10,000 each. The highest scorer will will earn Rs 15,000.

Match money in Aaha Gold Cup

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

SANTOSH POKHAREL

POKHARA, Jan 4: The participating teams of the ninth edition of Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament will be awarded match money for the first time in the tournament´s history, the organizers Sahara Club announced on Tuesday.

Aaha Gold Cup, one of the popular football tournaments in the mofussil, is all set to be held from January 18 to 29 at the Pokhara Stadium in Pokhara, Kaski.

According to the organizers, the winners and runners-up of each match will bag a purse of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively. The two losing semifinalists will be the last teams to get match fees.

According to Sahara President Bikram Thakali, they have started the new trend of awarding match money keeping in view the increasing professionalism in football.

The winners and runners-up of the tournament will bag a purse of Rs 200,000 and Rs 100,000 along with trophies and certificates, respectively. Likewise, the best player of the tournament will be awarded a Yamaha motorbike while the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward and coach will receive Rs 10,000 each. The highest scorer will get Rs 15,000.

Teams finalized

Altogether 12 teams including two teams from abroad are participating in this edition of the Aaha Gold Cup. According to the organizers:

Nepal Police Club

Manang Marshyangdi Club

ANFA U-19, Nepal Army Club

Himalayan Sherpa Club

Armed Police Force

Dharan Football Club

Three Star

Rupandehi-11

Sahara Club Nepal

Denzong Boys from Sikkim, India

Sahara FC UK