Army has faced a title drought in the capital for the last two decades and the tournament will be an opportunity for the departmental team to mark the beginning of a new era. The last time Army lifted a major title in the capital was during the Birthday Cup in 2050 BS. Outside the capital, the Tilottama Gold Cup held in Butwal in 2065 BS was Army"s last major title.[break]
´We have a great opportunity knocking at our door and we want to utilize that by winning the title,´ said Army coach Yogambar Suwal, who took charge of the departmental team two years ago and is largely credited for Army"s transformation from a ´power game´ team to a ´technical´ team.
Unlike Army, record six-time domestic league champion MMC has been a powerhouse in domestic football for nearly three decades. The Ncell Cup held some eight months ago was the last title won by MMC in the capital. Outside the capital, MMC recently won the Simara Gold Cup held in Bara in February and the Safal Pokhara Cup held in November 2012.
Army had edged past MMC 1-0 during the group stage of the ongoing tournament to advance into the knockout rounds as the group winner and defeated defending champion Nepal Police Club 3-0 in the quarterfinals. MMC eliminated two-time champion Three Star Club in the semifinal, dashing the hopes of the Patan-based club of reaching the final of the tournament for the first time in all four editions.
In the previous three editions of the tournament, MMC had made it to the finals of the first and second editions but lost to Three Star on both occasions. Thus, the final against Army will be a chance for MMC to lift the Gurkha Cup title which has eluded it so far. But winning its maiden Gurkha Cup title, previously known as British Gurkha Cup, will be a Herculean task for MMC.
Army, with a combination of junior and experienced players, is in its best form and it is clearly indicated by the team"s record in the tournament so far. Army has kept a clean sheet in the tournament scoring 15 goals and without conceding a single goal in all five matches. Army dominated almost all matches of the tournament and humiliated the likes of pre-tournament favorite Police 3-0. Meanwhile, MMC has also presented itself as a strong contender losing only one match, scoring 20 and conceding two goals.
´We have set no other target than winning the title,´ said Army coach Suwal, a man of few words. ´We will play in the same formation -- 4-4-2, start with the same line-up and same strategy that we came up in our previous matches,´ Suwal said. ´The initial quarter will be vital and we could change strategy if needed.´
Army will also have an advantage as two influential African players of MMC -- forward Yona Elias Ndabila and defender Azeez Saheed -- won"t play in the final as they face a one-match ban. Army"s fast and physically strong winger Tanka Basnet, Tek Bahadur Budathoki, forward Naresh Meche and Kashi Raj Kafle will be major threats to MMC.
MMC coach Amrit Panta admits that the absence of the two African players will create problems for his side. ´It is better not to think of them in the final. We should use other players we have in the squad,´ said Panta, who is also eying his maiden title.
´We will correct the mistakes we made against Army in the group stage. And the group stage match was not vital for us as we had already made it to the knockout stage then,´ Panta said, adding that his side"s win over Three Star in the semifinal after three years has boosted their morale. ´The win has inspired the players. However, I am feeling the pressure to win the first title of the year.´
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