Birat Gold Cup football tournament, scheduled to kick off on March 31, will be held under the lights for the first time.

The organisers—Birat Gold Cup Trust—are speeding up their preparations to hold the fifth edition of the knockout tournament in the evening. The organisers have come up with the plan in order to battle the windy conditions and scorching heat during the season. The event was stalled last year due to unavailability of venue.

Organising Committee President Nabin Rijal said the plan will not only help combat the heat but also give a recreational feel to the tournament. The organisers have already started to install artificial lights for that purpose. “We are instilling six lights in view of suggestion from technicians,” said Rijal. “All the matches will kick off between 1800 NST to 2000 NST under the lights.” The spectators have not turned in to watch matches in big numbers in the past owing to their busy schedule. “This time we are making hefty investment hoping to lure the spectators into the ground,” said Rijal.

The tournament will also be a highest cash prized football event outside Kathmandu Valley. According to Rijal the winners will be rewarded with Rs 1.27 million surpassing the record of Jhapa Gold Cup in Birtamode which rewarded the champions with of Rs 1.25 million. The runners-up will get Rs 551,000.  

Apart from top-tier clubs of the country, the 10-team tournament will feature one team each from Bangladesh, India and Bhutan. The expected cost of the tournament is Rs 12.5 million out of which the organisers are hoping to raise 75 percent amount from donations and the rest from gate collection.