As the chief sponsor, Coca-Cola will provide at least Rs 4.5 million annually. ANFA President Ganesh Thapa and Salman Latif Rawn, the managing director of Bottlers Nepal Limited, signed the deal on behalf of their respective institutions. ´The sponsorship amount will increase to Rs 5 million for next year and the two parties will finalize the amount for other years after discussions,´ Thapa said.[break]
Coca-Cola has been the chief sponsor of the youth tournament since 2006 and the event is named after the soft drink. The event features competitions in both boys" and girls" sections. Girls" competition has been part of the tournament since it was introduced three years ago. The tournament will be held in all 45 districts affiliated to ANFA. The top team(s) from each district will compete at the regional level and later at the central level.
Speaking on the occasion, Shadab Khan, the country manager of Coca-Cola for Nepal and Bhutan, said, ´Coca-Cola has been supporting healthy active living initiatives at the grassroots level across the world,´ adding, ´We are committed to developing grassroots talent in Nepal, which is why we have extended the partnership with ANFA to five more years and expanded to reach 45 districts in Nepal.´
Rawn said that the company was inspired to sponsor football due to the game"s craze in the country. ´The tournament will provide opportunity to youngsters to play on a big stage and help them to hone their talents.´
ANFA President Thapa opined that the tournament will play a vital role in the development of football at the grassroots level in the country. ´Altogether 538 schools participated last year and we are expecting nearly 1,500 schools in the current edition that is likely to begin from July 7.´
Besides Coca-Cola, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) and the National Sports Council have also been providing financial support for the tournament. Last year, both Coca-Cola and MoYS had give Rs 1.8 million each for conducting the tournament.
According to Thapa, the best players from the tournament will be trained at the football academies run by ANFA. The estimated budget of the tournament is Rs 8 million.
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