Pokhara, December 4

Sahara Club of Pokhara announced the dates of the 15th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup Football Tournament here today.

The 15th edition of the prestigious tournament will be held from January 17-28 at the Pokhara Stadium, informed the organisers at a press meet. A total of 12 teams, including three foreign clubs, will take part the tournament, informed Sahara Club General Secretary Keshab Raj Baral. Five ‘A’ division outfits and three departmental teams of the country will join the three foreign teams in the tournament.

Sahara Club President Bir Bhadra Acharya said that the schedule of the tournament was announced after the Club got approval from the All Nepal Football Association. “The ANFA has confirmed the dates and we started our preparations for the tournament. We are committed to develop Pokhara as the sports tourism destination,” said Acharya.

The hosts informed that the winners and runners-up will take home Rs 501,000 and Rs 251,000 respectively, while tournament’s best player will receive a motorbike. Acharya said the tournament would cost them Rs 8.29 million. “We are aiming to save money from the event as the tournament is one of the major sources of income for the Sahara Academy.

Sahara Club has been running a football academy and currently a total of 28 children from different 16 districts are taking shelter. Sahara Club has been taking care of needy children apart from providing them with regular football training.

Sahara Club Hong Kong President Deepak Gurung said they were continuing with the lucky draw award for a spectator. “We had provided one of the spectators with a ring of one-tola gold last year through a lucky draw and we are going to continue that in this edition as well,” Gurung said.