Himalayan Sherpa and Siddhi Binayak on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding to construct a football ground on the public land at Bishnu VDC-5. Himalayan Sherpa President Karma Chhiring Sherpa and Siddhi Binayak President Uttam Khadka signed the agreement in the presence of local representatives of political parties on Saturday.[break]
The football ground will be constructed on 25 ropanis of land in the initial phase. "We have agreed to construct the ground in order to make the club a model in the northern area of Kathmandu," said Khadka of Siddhi Binayak, located a short distance from Budhanilkantha.
According to Sherpa, the ground will be ready to host matches within a year and Himalayan Shepra can use the ground for 41 years once the construction work is over. As per the agreement, Siddhi Binayak will look after the management of the ground. Siddhi Binayak has already invested about Rs 1.7 million for leveling the surface. The ground will have an area of at least 60x110m.
"We were unable to construct the ground due to lack of budget, therefore we have partnered with Himalayan Sherpa," said Khadka.
The club has also set long-term plans of constructing parapet and a four-storey academy for the players. "The estimated total cost of construction is Rs 120 million," said Sherpa, adding that construction of the academy will complete in four years. Himalayan Sherpa will bear about Rs 60 million of the construction works and raise the remaining amount from different sources.
An 11-member ground construction committee will be formed within a week with Sherpa as its coordinator. The committee will also include representatives from Himalayan Sherpa, Siddhi Binayak and locals.
Stating that infrastructure development plays a vital role in the development of sports, Sherpa said the club was happy for the support received from all sectors. Apart from the departmental teams and Jawalakhel Youth Club, no other A division football club in the country has its own playground.
Speaking on the occasion, National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama lauded Himalayan Sherpa´s efforts and said that NSC was positive about the construction of a semi-covered hall in the northern part of Kathmandu.
During the function, Himalayan Sherpa also presented its skipper Som Bahadur Malla with a token of love for his four-year service to the club. Malla is set to leave for Korea for foreign employment. Similarly, the club also felicitated ANFA Vice-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha, General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan and Treasurer Birat Jung Shahi. The three were honored for receiving the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gold medal in recognition of their long contribution to the development of football.
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