KATHMANDU, Nov 6: Host Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) has advanced to the semifinal of Chief of Army Staff Fourth International Women's Football registering 4-0 victory over Sikkim on Sunday.
In the quarterfinal match held at Lagankhel, Dipa Adhikari, Dipa Rai, Sharmila Thapa Magar and Indira Rai netted one goal each for the winning side Army Club. The runner-up of the last edition Army will now vie against Central Region in the semifinal clash on Monday.
Dipa Adhikari gave Army the lead by scoring in the 30th minute. Army extended the lead 2-0 with Dipa Rai's goal in the 52nd minute. In the one-sided match, Army produced another goal three minutes later, thanks to Sharmila Thapa Magar's short range finish.
Indira Rai became Army's fourth player to score as she made the score line 4-0 in the 73rd minute and helped her team to register an easy victory. Dipa Adhikari was declared woman-of-the-match in the game.
Similarly, defending champion Armed Police Force (APF) will face another departmental team Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the second semifinal clash of the tournament that also will be held on Monday.
The youngest team in the domestic women's football Army is currently playing under the coaching of Chakra Tamang. Coach Tamang said that it wasn't difficult to defeat Sikkim.
Army had kicked off the tournament beating Eastern Region 6-0 in the first match. Coach Tamang said that his team's target is to clinch the title. “We are good enough to win this tournament. So we are fully confident that we will defeat any team in the final,” said Tamang who has been coaching Army team since eight months. This is Tamang's second stint with Army. He had guided departmental team to the second position of the national women's league two years back.
This women's team of Army that was formed four years ago has now six national players in its disposal. The strongest part of this team is the group of players who have been playing together since the formation of the team according to coach Tamang. “We have very strong set of squad. Our players are technically good and they are improving match by match. Our main competitors are other two departmental teams - APF and Police Club. But we can challenge them in domestic tournaments,” added coach Tamang.
The tournament which has seen the participation of the nine teams is being held on the knockout format. The winner of the tournament will bag a purse of Rs 300,000, which is highest cash prize, in the domestic women's football. Similarly, the runner-up will be handed Rs 150,000 and the two semifinalists will be given Rs 50,000 each. The best player of the tournament will be awarded with scooter.
Army defends CoAS volleyball title
