According to Ncell´s Corporate Communication Manager Sanju Koirala, the fund will be used for A division knockout football tournament, U16 football tournament, women´s national championship, player of the year award and women´s national team.[break]
"We are conducting different programs as part of our corporate social responsibility. ANFA President Ganesh Thapa came up with the proposal and we liked it, thus, we decided to sponsor football," Koirala said.
This is the highest amount of sponsorship in Nepali football. Earlier, in March 2011, Gorkha Brewery had signed the sponsorship deal of the same amount.
Speaking on the occasion, ANFA President Thapa said that the agreement between the two parties will be vital in the development of Nepali football, professionalism and individual players.
According to Thapa, A division knockout tournament will be held from September 12 for a month and will carry the highest amount of cash prize than other knockout tournaments held so far. Thapa, however, did not reveal the amount.
Thapa said women´s national championship would carry, for the first time, cash prizes for winning teams and best women players will also receive awards and attractive prizes. The event will be held in Bara and Rautahat from July 7.
Similarly, U-16 football tournament will be held across 45 districts of the country. The event is scheduled to start from August 23. Ncell will be the chief sponsor of the women´s national football team, which is all set to compete in Women´s SAFF Championship in September.
Likewise, player of the year award will be announced in the first week of April. According to Thapa, the player of the year award will be conferred on a male player and the winner will be awarded with a car. "We will formulate criteria for the player of year award to make it fair," Thapa said.
Stating the reason behind choosing the events, Koirala of Ncell said, "We chose to sponsor these programs for the overall development of Nepali football. The U-16 football will be helpful in development of grassroots football, the knockout tournament will enhance professionalism and the player of the year award will motivate players."
Thapa also hinted that Ncell would continue to sponsor football if ANFA handled the events successfully. "It is ANFA´s responsibility to run the programs successfully. If it does not succeed, the sponsor will not be encouraged," Koirala said.
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