Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 31

The first Birendra Memorial Inter-Municipality Football Tournament, under the joint auspices of All Nepal Football Association and Kathmandu Metropolis, is beginning from Sunday with Biratnagar playing against Butwal at Dasharath Stadium.

In all, 14 teams — qualified from the regional-level tournaments held in Hetaunda, Pokhara, Ilam and Nepalgunj — are taking part in the Rs 1 million tournament. Apart from the highest amount of first prize, the organisers also held tie-sheet draw for the tournament for the first time in football history in the country. The participating teams are divided into two pools of seven each. Tikapur, Biratnagar, Butwal, Pokhara, Itahari, Lalitpur and Dharan are drawn in Pool A. Mechi Nagar, Ratna Nagar, Kathmandu, Madhyapur Thimi, Nepalgunj, Janakpur and Waling are in Pool B. Tikapur and Mechi Nagar directly entered the quarter-finals with a bye in first round. The winner of the tournament will be richer by Rs 5,00,000 while the runner-up will get Rs 2,00,000 and the third and the fourth-place holders will receive Rs 1,25,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively. The best player and the highest scorer of the tournament will be awarded of Rs 50,000 each. The organisers have formed a five-member committee under the convenorship of ANFA treasurer Birat Jung Shahi to select the best player of the tournament. Other members of the committee include Bhim Thapa, Dhurba KC, Raju Shakya and Ashok KC.

On Friday, Kathmandu Metropolis and ANFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the tournament. As per the agreement, the metropolis will give Rs 1 million a year to ANFA.