The opening match between Nawalparasi and Sarlahi will take place in Nawalparasi while the final match and closing ceremony will be held in Hetauda.[break]
According to ANFA General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan, the knockout tournament will feature a total of 28 teams -- departmental teams Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Army and 25 district teams affiliated to the ANFA. The participating team have been divided into two groups. APF and Police are the winner and runner-up of the last edition.
Asked why ANFA chose only 25 out of the 45 district associations affiliated to it, ANFA CEO Indra Man Tuladhar said the team selection was based on the performances and activities of the district associations in the previous season. ANFA has included Ilam as a new team this year.
Four teams -- Police, Army, APF and Kailali -- have received byes and gained direct entry into the quarterfinals. Tuladhar informed that the departmental teams´ fixtures have been scheduled for only after October 28 as the national team is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Qatar in Doha from October 23 to 27. All the players of the national team belong to the three departmental teams.
Milan Mani Sharma, the corporate communication expert of sponsor Ncell, said the telecommunication operator had given continuity to its sponsorship to give exposure to women´s football. "The main purpose of sponsoring the tournament is to give exposure, contribute to the qualitative growth and motivate women footballers in Nepal," said Sharma.
According to Sharma, Ncell has agreed to sponsor three football programs -- women´s and men´s Ncell Cup and Ncell Player of the Year award -- this season.
Ncell will bear all the expenses for conducting the programs. The expected cost of the tournament is Rs 3.8 million. Ncell had sponsored the U-16 boys´ football and national women´s football team last season.
The winner and the runner-up will bag Rs 300,000 and Rs 150,000 respectively along with trophies and certificates, while the losing semifinalists will get Rs 50,000 each. Similarly, the best player will be awarded a scooter, and the best players in four different positions -- goalkeeping, defense, midfield and forward -- and the best coach will get Rs 25,000 each.
Participating teams: Nawalparasi, Sarlahi, Udayapur, Surkhet, Kaski, Taplejung, Kailali, Bardiya, Morang, Bara, Ilam, Panchthar, Rupandehi, APF, Makawanpur, Dolakha, Saptari, Kathmandu, Dhankuta, Chitwan, Nepal Army, Banke, Nepal Police, Sunsari, Jhapa, Dhanusha, Kanchanpur, Rautahat.
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