The winner and the runner-up teams will get Rs 600,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively along with trophies.The organizer, Jhapa District Football Association, claimed that it was confident of hosting the event successfully since it has already organized some matches of the national league held under the flagship of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
The knockout format tournament which will conclude on April 9 will see participation of 10 teams including two teams from India. Host Jhapa XI, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Three Star Club, Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal Police Club, Armed Police Force, Rupandehi XI, Kaski XI are the teams from Nepal while Gorkha Brigade and Sangli District Football Association of India have confirmed their participation in the tournament, according to Bhagirath Ale, senior coach of Jhapa district.
Asian Thai Foods has provided Rs 800,000 as the chief sponsor of the tournament, according to Ganesh Pokharel, the general secretary of the main organizing committee. The organizers have already collected Rs 700,000 for the tournament and they have been assured of collecting additional amount of Rs 2.5 million from various donors.
The savings from the tournament will be used in upgrading Jhapa XI, said Jal Kumar Gurung, the president of Jhapa District football association and executive member of the ANFA. Jhapa XI Football Fan of Saudi Arabia has provided Rs 133,620 to run the tournament.
Jhapa XI shall take on Sangli District in the opening match. Earlier, Jhapa made a strong presence in the top level football of the country after it lifted the trophy of ANFA Cup in the capital a couple of years ago. Similarly, Jhapa finished fourth in its maiden appearance in the league last season. Besides this, Jhapa has also lifted the titles of various knockout tournaments played across the country.
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