DAMAK, March 4: Jhapa XI has started the third Jhapa Gold Cup Football Tournament with a win as it beat Far-western XI 5-0 on Saturday in the opening match.
At the Dom Lal Stadium in Birtamod, Jhapa kept Far-western under pressure throughout the match just as what the score line suggested.
Jhapa took the lead in the sixth minute of the match through Devendra Tamang as he converted the rebound after Bishal Rai’s shot hit the bar. Jhapa doubled its tally in the 14th minute through an own goal from Bishnu Chaudhary when Bishwas Shrestha’s shot deflected Chaudhary’s leg.
Jhapa made the score 3-0 in the half an hour mark when Karna Limbu headed the ball from a resulting Shrestha freekick. Jhapa was four goals up inside the first half as Khamir Gilson Kandangwa converted from a Bhushan Subba pass in the injury time of the first half. That was not all for Jhapa as Limbu scored his personal second from a Yogesh Gurung pass in the 52nd minute.
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Jhapa that pressurized its opponent throughout the match also had other few chances to score, but was denied by brilliant goalkeeping of Far-western goalkeeper. Shrestha’s free kick in the 13th minute was wonderful saved by Jeevan Bhattarai, while Kandangwa’s 22nd minute strike was also saved. Likewise, Limbu could not convert a glorious chance in the 37th minute when he was freed by a pass from Gurung. Jhapa’s Limbu was named the man-of-the-match and was handed over Rs 25,000 for his contribution.
A total of 10 teams are taking part in the tournament including India’s Sikkim United Club.
The winner of the tournament will be rewarded with Rs 1,251,000 while the runner-up will take home Rs 600,000.
The departmental team Nepal Police Club (NPC) will take on Rupandehi XI on Sunday in the second match of the tournament.
The Chief Minister of Province 1 Sherdhan Rai inaugurated the tournament and said that the province had unlimited opportunities in the sports sector.
He claimed to have a plan to free players from politics and develop their talents for the betterment of the country and establishing a Sports University to groom talented players.
“It is important to develop the sports sector in order to attract young players in the sector,’’ Rai said. “We will focus on the development of infrastructure and nurturing of players.”
