This year's edition has been made special as a silver jubilee, and floodlights have been used to take the viewer experience to a new level, according to the organizers.
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For the first time, competitive football will be played under floodlights in the evening in Pokhara.
With this new experiment, the 25th edition of the Aha-Rara Pokhara Gold Cup football tournament organized by Sahara Club Pokhara is starting today, with the opening match between the host Sahara Club and Hong Kong's Gorkha International Football Club.
The tournament, which will start at the Pokhara Stadium, will run until 9 Falgun. This year's edition has been made special as a silver jubilee, and the organizers have stated that floodlights have been used to take the viewer experience to a new level.
Most of the matches of the tournament will be played in the evening. A 35-foot-high 'portable floodlight' has been installed for that. According to club president Keshav Thapa, the first half of the match will be played in natural light, while floodlights will be used in the second half. The floodlights, which were previously used in the Virat Gold Cup, will be managed by the Phulbari Cricket Club of Inaruwa. The organizers expect the number of spectators to increase as the match is played after office hours.
'This will be a new taste for the Pokhara audience,' said Chairman Thapa, 'and the aim is also to put pressure on the government to install permanent floodlights at the Pokhara stadium.' He expressed confidence that this edition of the Gold Cup will prove to be a milestone in the campaign to establish Pokhara as a sports tourism city.
A total of 12 teams will compete in the competition this time. APF, Nepal Police, Machhindra, Church Boys United, Manang Marsyangdi, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Planning Boys United and Friends Club are participating from Nepal. Uzbekistan's Abha Football Club, India's Thunderbolt North United (Sikkim) and Hong Kong's Gorkha International will take to the field as international teams.
The prize money has also been increased. The winner will receive Rs. 1.4 million and the runner-up will receive Rs. 7 million and 1 thousand. The best player of the tournament will be awarded a Telji electric scooter. The best goalkeeper, defense, midfield, striker, coach, top scorer and emerging player will each receive Rs 25,000. The ‘Man of the Match’ of each match will be awarded Rs 10,000 and a trophy, while daily ‘Lucky Draw’ and ‘Fan of the Match’ awards have also been kept for the spectators.
On the occasion of the silver anniversary, Sahara Club is presenting the ‘Best National Football Player Award’ to national women’s football player Preeti Rai. In addition, 25 personalities and organizations who have contributed to the continuation of the Gold Cup until the 25th edition will be specially honored.
The list of those to be honored includes Himshree Foods directors Prakash KC, Kiran KC and Roshan KC, Bikram Thapa, journalists Ajay Phuyal, Prakash Timilsina, Dipendra Shrestha, Milan Tamu, Dilip Rai, National Sports Council, All Nepal Football Association, Hari Kumar Shrestha, Prakash Sherchan, Khem Bahadur Gurung, Tika Bahadur Karki, Sunil Kumar Gurung, Fewa City Hospital, Dev Gurung, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Late Hem Bahadur Gurung, Late Rajman Thakali, Deepak Gurung, Krishna Gurung and Keshav Raj Baral.
