Hetauda, March 30

Regal Hetauda Resort Makawanpur-XI defeated Dauphins Family Club 2-1 to win the title of the second Bhugarbha Cement Martyrs Memorial Makawanpur Gold Cup here today.

Yogesh Gurung scored a brace for the home team, while Yannick Owona netted one for the Cameroonian team. With the title, Makawanpur received Rs 800,000, while Dauphins earned Rs 400,000. Hisub Thapaliya of Makawanpur was named the man of the match and he got Rs 10,000.

Owona put the visitors ahead in the fifth minute when he slammed home past Makawanpur goalkeeper Ashok Baral from the d-box. Gurung levelled the scores three minutes later from the spot after Dauphins defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the danger zone. Makawanpur earned second penalty of the match in the 81st minute and Gurung did no mistake in converting from the spot.

Makawanpur goalkeeper Baral, who conceded just one goal in the tournament, was declared the best player of the tournament and he received Rs 75,000. Makawanpur also bagged four individual awards — Baral (goalkeeper), Yogesh Gurung (midfielder), Rejin Subba (forward) and Bijay Lal Shrestha (coach). OkoBota of Dauphins was named the best defender. All the best individuals received Rs 20,000 each.

Makawanpur coach Shrestha lauded his players for putting in hard works on their way to winning the title. “We succeeded in our mission only because of the players’ hard work,” he said. Dauphins had come to Nepal to participate in the Nepal Ice Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup in Dhangadhi in December last year and they prolonged their stay and won four titles — Tilittama Gold Cup, Pokhara Cup, Budha Subba Gold Cup and Maivalley Gold Cup — in their maiden tour.

A total of 10 teams took part in the tournament organised by Makawanpur District Football Association. Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Hari Bahadur Mahat handed over the prizes to the winners.