KASKI: The 24th edition of the Aaha Rara Gold Cup, one of Nepal’s largest regional football tournaments, will be held in Pokhara from February 4 to 15.
Hosted by Sahara Club Pokhara, the tournament will feature 12 teams – nine from Nepal and three international teams, as announced by the club’s chair, Keshab Raj Baral.
The opening match on February 4 will see the host Sahara Club face off against Nepal Police Club, a departmental team.
Other participating teams include Three Star Club, Machhindra Football Club, Sankata Club, NRT Football Club, Api Power Church Boys United Football Club, Tribhuvan Army Club, Armed Police Force (APF), and international teams: Brigade Boys Club (UK), Thunder Bolt North United (India), and Black Bull Football Club (Uzbekistan).
The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A includes Brigade Boys, Sahara Club, NRT, Church Boys, and Tribhuvan Army, while Group B consists of Three Star, APF, Machhindra, Thunder Bolt, Sankata, and Black Bulls.
The winner of the tournament will receive a cash prize of Rs 1.2 million, while the runner-up will earn Rs 600,000. The tournament’s “Best Player” will be awarded a scooter.
Individual awards, each with a cash prize of Rs 25,000, will be given for the highest scorer, best defender, best goalkeeper, best midfielder, best striker, and best coach. A special award will also be presented to the Fair Play Team.
The tournament is expected to cost Rs 14.2 million, with an estimated income of Rs 15.1 million.
The event is sponsored by Aaha Rara Noodles of Him Shree Foods Pvt. Ltd., and any surplus funds will be used to provide free football training and residential facilities for 30 boys supported by the Sahara Academy.
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