Kathmandu, November 11

Bright Youth Club is organising first Chandragiri Gold Cup Football Tournament here at Naikap grounds of Chandragiri Municipality from November 14-21.

A total of eight teams — seven A division outfits and hosts Bright Youth — are taking part in the tournament, informed club President and former international Ramesh Budhathoki.

Nepal Police Club, Friends Club, CMG Club Sankata and Bright Youth are in one half of the draw, while Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal APF Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club and Jawalakhel Youth Club are in next pool. Hosts Bright Future will take on Friends Club in the opening match.

“We had invited all 14 A division clubs but only seven teams confirmed their registration in the first-ever A division knock out tournament organised by a private club in Kathmandu,” said Budhathoki. “May be other clubs decided to take part in a tournament in Jhapa as the two events are being held at the same dates,” he added.

The winners and runners-up of the knockout tournament will get Rs 500,000 and Rs 250,000 respectively, while the best player and the highest scorer will be awarded with Rs 30,000 each. Similarly, player-of-the-match will get Rs 3,000. President Budhathoki also informed that the club was planning to run football academy in near future. Club’s Vice-president Krishna Basyal informed that the participating teams will receive Rs 30,000 each match fee.

The estimated budget of the tournament is Rs 5.5 million. Nepal General Marketing’s Hero motorbike, United Cement, Sipradi Trading, CG Group, Bright Future School, Oracle Academy, National Life Insurance, Chandragiri Municipality are the sponsors of the tournament.

NGM’s Media Coordinator Shital Dahal said the company said the association was just the beginning and it could grow in the days to come. “As a sponsor, we will assess the response and decide accordingly in the next edition of the tournament,” she added.