MARTYRS’ MEMORIAL LEAGUE

Kathmandu, October 31:

Defending champions Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) will take on new entrants Saraswoti Youth Club (SYC) on the inaugural day of the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League at Dasharath Stadium here on Wednesday.

In all, 14 ‘A’ division clubs will vie for the Rs two million championship that will be played in double-leg format. The organisers, All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) at a press meet, announced the prize money to the top eight teams and a fair play award.

Apart from the winners cheque of Rs two million, the other top seven teams will get Rs one million, Rs 500,000, Rs 300,000, Rs 200,000, Rs 100,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively. The fair play award of Rs 50,000 will be awarded to the most disciplined team.

The estimated cost for the three-month event is Rs 6.6 million including the total prize money of Rs 5.1 million, said ANFA. The chief sponsors, San Miguel, which signed a three-year agreement last year, will provide Rs 2.5 million for the tournament. Like the previous year, the organisers will also award the six best individuals — forward, midfielder, defender, goalkeeper, the highest goal scorer and a coach — with a motorcycle each and a car to the best player of the league.

ANFA has also formed seven different committees for the grand success of the event.

Rajendra Gurung, sales and marketing director at the Gorkha Brewery, Arun Adhikari, marketing manager at the Gorkha Brewery and ANFA officials were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion ANFA president Ganesh Thapa expressed satisfaction over the interests shown by the leading Nepali business houses by providing sponsors to various clubs. Thapa also announced ANFA’s plans to organise a separate national league on a home and away basis after three years. “We are planning to organise a separate national league from the year 2009/10,” Thapa said.