Sports

Gurkha Brigade edge APF, enter quarters

Gurkha Brigade Club of India entered the quarter-finals of the 14th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup with a stunning 2-1 victory over Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club here at the Pokhara Stadium on Wednesday. Gurkha Brigade edge APF, enter quarters

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Published at : January 21, 2016

Updated at : January 21, 2016 09:26

Pokhara

Gurkha Brigade Club of India entered the quarter-finals of the 14th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup with a stunning 2-1 victory over Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club here at the Pokhara Stadium on Wednesday.

Bikram Rai and Ajay Tamang scored a goal each for the Gurkhas, while substitute Prabin Syangtan pulled one back for the departmental team, who were knocked out from the first round. Gurkha Brigade, who were eliminated from the first round in the previous appearance in the tournament two years back, will now take on top-tier side Manang Marshyangdi Club for a place in the semi-finals.

Gurkha Brigade went quickly ahead in the 11th minute through Rai, who collected a pass from Tamang to perfectly place the ball at the far post. The foreign invitee began to exert more pressure but went on to squander several scoring chances that came their way.

APF regrouped after the first half and began aggressively with the start of the second 45 minutes and deservedly got an equaliser through Syangtan. Just 10 minutes after the resumption, Syangtan received a cross from Shyam Nepal and struck powerfully into the nets from the area. APF had more chances but they kept wasting them.

Skipper Ganesh Lawati was in hand to put APF ahead

in the game but he failed to score in a one-versus-one encounter with Gurkha Brigade goalkeeper. It was rather the visitors who scored against the run of play. In a role reversal, Rai fed Tamang inside the area and the forward made no mistake converting it from a close range.

Tamang later walked away with the man-of-the-match award. APF had seven of their players representing Nepal in the ongoing Bangabandhu Gold Cup football tournament in Bangladesh, a reason, according to coach Krishna Thapa, for the team’s defeat. “We wasted few scoring chances and it happened because we don’t have our experienced players with us at the moment,” said Thapa.

Gurkha Brigade coach Norgen Lama said scoring early in the game put them in front foot throughout the contest. “Few of our players were injured but they still played well. Getting an early goal was crucial for us. We are eagerly awaiting the quarter-final match against Manang,” said Lama.

On Thursday, Jawalakhel Youth Club will take on Tribhuvan Army Club.

Birat Gold Cup kicks off on Feb 11

The fourth edition of the Birat Gold Cup Football Tournament kicks off here at the Biratnagar Stadium from February 11.

A total of 11 teams including five ‘A’ Division clubs

and four foreign invitees are participating in the 10-day tournament, which will give away a cash prize of Rs 501,000 to the winners. The runners-up will take home Rs 301,000, informed the organising committee during a press conference here on Wednesday.

Manang Marshyangdi Club, Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club, Nepal Armed Police Force Club and National League champions Three Star are the top flight clubs from Kathmandu. George Telegraph of India, Bhutan XI, Bangabandhu of Bangladesh and United Sikkim are the foreign invitees. The district teams include Jhapa XI and Morang XI. Jhapa are the defending champions.

The losers in each rounds will also be given motivation prizes with the teams making exit from the first round getting Rs 30,000. Losers in the quarter-finals and semi-finals will also get Rs 75,000 and Rs 100,000 respectively. Likewise, player-of-the-tournament, best coach, midfielder, goalkeeper, defender, highest scorer, team manager and every man-of-the-match will also get their share of prizes.

Birat Gold Cup Trust had handed over the hosting rights of the tournament to private sector since last year. The estimated budget of the tournament is Rs 7.5 million.

Mai Valley Gold Cup

The second Mai Valley Gold Cup is set to begin here in Ilam from January 28. A total of 10 teams—seven ‘A’ Division clubs, two from India and the hosts—are participating in the tournament that will give away Rs 300,000 to the champions and Rs 175,000 to the runners-up. Tribhuvan Army Club are the defending champions of the tournament.