Key Takeaways:

• Tournament dates:November 14 to 22 at Dharan Stadium
• Organiser: D-19 Club Dharan-19 to promote women's football
• Teams: APF Club, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Aqua FC (India), Bagmati FC, Kakarvitta Training Centre, Udayapur FC, Swarnim FC Dharan
• Indian team participation: Expected to provide new exposure for local and Koshi Province players

DHARAN, SEPTEMBER 11 Dharan is set to host its first night-time women's international invitational Gold Cup football tournament, with eight teams competing at Dharan Stadium from November 14 to 22. The tournament is being organised by D-19 Club Dharan-19 as part of efforts to promote women's football and provide local players with opportunities to compete against national and international players. The participating teams are APF Club, Nepal Army Club, Nepal Police Club, India's Aqua Football Club from Jharkhand, Bagmati Football Club, Kakarvitta Training Centre of Jhapa, Udayapur Football Club and Swarnim Football Club of Dharan. The winners will receive Rs 500,000 and the runners-up Rs 300,000. The best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward, coach and highest scorer will each receive Rs 15,000, while the player of the tournament will receive an electric scooter. D-19 Club President and tournament coordinator Santosh Rai said the competition was being organised to help establish Dharan as an important centre for women's football. 'Providing local women players an opportunity to compete on the same field with national and international players is the main objective of the tournament,' Rai said. 'It will help improve their confidence and playing ability.' The organisers expect the participation of an Indian team to provide local and Koshi Province players with new competitive experience and exposure. The club also aims to attract more women to professional football and use sport to engage young people in productive activities. It said the night-time format would add a new dimension to Dharan's football culture.