Gurung, who is associated with Sahara Club of Pokhara, began the initiative for the development of football about a decade ago, while he was on a visit to Nepal with a group of foreigners. Sahara Football Academy built under the initiative of Gurung and with support from Sahara UK, an association of non-resident Nepalis living in the UK, will formally be inaugurated on Friday. The academy is located in Dobilla-17, Pokhara. [break]
Gurung has been heading Sahara UK since its establishment in 2008 and has already donated Rs 11 million so far for the construction of the academy which spreads in an area of 26 ropanis.
The relations of Sahara UK and Sahara is over 10 years old. The relation was established when Gurung arrived in Nepal 10 years ago with his colleague from Midland Airlines. Gurung´s team had visited Sahara Club on the advice of Mahesh Gurung, a non-resident Nepali of Pokhara living in England. They were touched by the initiatives taken by Sahara, Pokhara and this motivated them to enter a formal partnership.
“Impressed by the initiatives taken by Sahara Pokhara, my friends lent their support to young players of Sahara Academy,” said Gurung, who runs Royal Oak Restaurant in Oxford, London, adding, “The relation that was established 10 years ago motivated us to set up Sahara UK in 2008.”
Gurung also sent a team from England to compete in the 2005 and 2006 edition of Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament hosted by Sahara, Pokhara.
Siobhan Fairer who helped kids of the academy in May 2003 died of brain hemorrhage in England fourth months ago. Fairer´s death came as a great shock to his friends, including Gurung.
“After the death of Fairer we vowed to carry on her campaign of helping the children. We established Pokhara Academy Children Trust (PACT) and started providing institutionalized support to Sahara, Pokhara,” said Gurung who has arrived in Nepal to attend the inauguration of the academy.
Gurung is the founder president of both Sahara, UK and PACT. Gurung describes PACT and Sahara, UK as the members of same family. The idea of helping orphans, the poor and street children was espoused after association of PACT with Sahara, UK.
Sahara, UK also made a valuable contribution in purchasing the land for the construction of the academy. “The academy should be well-managed and we have planned to set up a revolving fund for that,” said Gurung.
The charity work that began from Sahara has taken a broad dimension now. Gurung helped NRN Dina Gurung to compete in London Olympics representing Nepal. “Sahara UK also wishes to support games like cricket, karate, taekwondo,” said Gurung, adding, “We are ready to support players with extra-ordinary talents.”
Sahara has also provided training opportunity to footballer Anil Gurung, the forward of Nepali national team. Under its umbrella Sahara UK has also formed Sahara UK FC headed by Hari Shrestha. The club plays 10th grade league of Hampshire FA under English league format.
Inspired by Sahara UK, a similar organization has been formed in Hong Kong named Sahara, Hong Kong.
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