Rautahat take on Nawalparasi today

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Co-hosts Rautahat will take on Nawalparasi in the inaugural match of the 14th Ncell National Women’s Football Championship in Chandranigahapur on Saturday.

In all, 27 teams — 24 districts and three departmental sides — are participating in the tournament. The winners will earn Rs 300,000.

The tournament is the biggest in terms of participating teams. In all, 24 teams battled it out for a top prize of Rs 50,000 in the previous edition. Departmental side Tribhuvan Army Club and Taplejung District will make their debut from the event.

Other departmental sides include three time defending champions Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club and runners-up of previous edition Nepal Police Club.

The runners-up will take home Rs 150,000, while the losing semi-finalists will earn Rs 50,000 each and the best player of the tournament will get a scooter. Five best individuals — forward, midfielder, goalkeeper, defender and coach — will get Rs 25,000 each.

Tournament coordinator Indra Man Tuladhar said all preparations have been completed for the July 14-28 event. “Local organisers (Bara and Rautahat District FAs) have given their best. Our technical team has inspected the pitch and we are ready for kick off,” said Tuladhar, also a Chief Executive Officer of the All Nepal Football Association.

The event also serves as a preliminary selection for the SAFF Championships scheduled for September in Sri Lanka. Rautahat will host 12 games including the inaugural ceremony, while 14 matches including final will be staged in Bara.

Rautahat, Nawalparasi, Taplejung, Surkhet, Kailali, Saptari, Morang, Bardiya, Dolakha, Jhapa, Dhanusha, Panchthar and APF will play in Rautahat with the winners taking on the finalist from the Bara leg. Udyapur, Kathmandu, Kanchanpur, Dhankuta, Bara, Makawanpur, NPC, Sarlahi, Kaski, TAC, Rupandehi, Sunsari, Chitwan and Banke will play their matches in Bara.