The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is organizing British Gorkha Cup 2009 in association with British Gorkha Group (BGG). The tournament carries a cash prize of two million rupees. This is the highest cash prize in the history of Nepali knockout football tournaments.
Altogether, 16 teams including 12 ´A´ division teams and four regional teams will vie for the title. The winners and the runners up of the tournament will bag a cash prize of one million rupees and Rs 500,000 respectively in the tournament to be held in league cum knockout format.
Speaking at a press meet organized in the ANFA Complex on Thursday, ANFA General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan said altogether 31 matches will be played in the tournament that will last for 25 days. Two matches will be played each day during the league round and one match will be held each day from the quarterfinal round at the Dasharath Stadium.
Meanwhile, BGG President DB Bamjan and ANFA President Ganesh Thapa signed the sponsorship agreement for the tournament. The BGG will provide a financial support of two million rupees to conduct the tournament. Earlier, the BGG had conducted internal tournament for two editions under the same title.
Speaking on the occasion, ANFA President Thapa said that it was a good start for the tournament as the dispute between the two soccer bodies - ANFA and NFA - had been settled. The first division league had been halted for the last three years due to dispute between the two bodies.
“The sponsorship deal will last for three years,” said BGG President DB Bamjan. He also hinted at the possibility of BGG´s involvement in other sports as well. “We opted to support football realizing that Nepali sports is in poor condition,” Bamjan said.
Other than cash prizes for the winners and the runners up, two semifinalist teams will receive a cash prize of Rs 100,000 each. The best player of the tournament will be awarded a motorbike. Similarly, the best forward, midfielder, defender and goalkeeper each will bag a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
First division teams to participate in the tournament are Nepal Police Club, Army Club, APF Club, Nabil Three Star, NRT, Manang Marsyangdi, Friends, Jawalakhel, Sankata, RCT, Boys Union and Machhindra Club.
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