According to the Khem Gurung, the president of organizer Kaski District Football Association, the top eight A division teams have confirmed their participation in the knockout football tournament to be participated by at least 10 teams including a host team and another team from Bhutan.[break]
Nepal Police Club, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Mega Three Star Club, Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club, Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT), New Road Team (NRT) and Nepal Army Club had secured top eight positions in the A division league that concluded on July 16 earlier this year.
The organizer has planned to include 12 teams at most. According to Gurung they are yet to finalize the teams from Bangladesh and India. "We are in regular contact with an Indian and a Bangladeshi team. A team of host Pokhara XI and another team from Bhutan have already confirmed participation."
Safal Milk of Laxmi Group is the chief sponsor while Samsung Mobile is the co-sponsor. The tournament carries the highest cash prize than any other tournament held so far outside the capital. The winner and runner up will bag a purse of Rs 250,000 and 125,000 respectively. The best player of the tournament will be awarded with a motorbike while the best coach and best players in five different positions will bag Rs 15,000 each. The expected cost of the event is Rs 4.5 million.
The tournament, however, will not see the participation of national players, informed Lalit Krishna Shrestha, vice president and spokesperson of All Nepal Football Association.
Currently, the national team is on a tour of ASEAN countries as part of their preparations for the SAFF Championship to be held in New Delhi from December 1-15. "The national team will undergo close camp training for the SAFF Championship," Shrestha said.
Meanwhile, Kaski District Football Association had organized a one-day workshop for media persons in Pokhara to impart knowledge about technical aspects of football.
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