Sunsari, March 4

Avenir Football Club won the title of the 23rd Budha Subba Tuborg Gold Cup Football Tournament here at the Dharan Stadium today.

The Cameroon-based Avenir defeated Kakarvitta Football Training Centre 1-0 in the final.

Saba Ali scored solitary goal of the match. After a goalless first half, Ali found the back of the nets in the 65th minute after he slotted into the second bar from the edge of the area. Richard Wilson of Avenir was named the player of the match and he earned Rs 10,000.

Avenir coach Aasik Thapa Magar lauded his boys for spirited performance against a strong side in the final match.

'The opponents were also strong but we were able to score and win the match,' said Thapa Magar. 'We are happy that the team won the title in the first appearance in the tournament.' KFTC coach Munna Subba slammed poor refereeing in the final match.

'We could not score because of the biased decisions from the match officials,' he said.

Along with the trophy, champions Avenir received one million rupees, while runners-up KFTC earned Rs 500,000. KFTC's Milan Rai was declared the best player of the tournament and he received Rs 100,000, while his teammate Nishan Limbu won the highest scorer's award along with Rs 35,000.

Likewise, Avenir trio Sagun, Joey Aldo and Ashik Thapa Magar were named the best defender, midfielder and coach respectively, while ANFA Morang's Pranjaya Gachhadhar was declared the best goalkeeper and KFTC's Yami won the best striker's award.

They received Rs 25,000 each.

Binod Rai of Dharan Football Club was named the emerging player and he got Rs 10,000.

A total of eight teams took part in the tournament organised by Dharan FC. All Nepal Football Association President Pankaj Nembang, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Harka Sampang, Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha and Dharan FC President Kishor Rai handed over the prizes to the winners.

Meanwhile, Dharan FC honoured Santosh Kafle of The Himalayan Times with sports journalism award. Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha handed over Rs 15,000 to Kafle during the closing ceremony of the tournament.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.