Organizing a press conference in the capital of Thursday Gopi Bhattarai, the president of the organizer Kaski District Football Association (KDFA), informed that a total of 12 teams including three from abroad will be competing in the event. [break]
A team from Bhutan, Yeti FC from Australia and Hong Kong Nepalese Football Association from Hong Kong will be the teams from abroad to compete in the knockout event. Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), Laxmi Bank Three Star, Friends, Jawalakhel, Yeti Himalayan Sherpa, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force (APF), U-16 national football team and Pokhara XI of host KDFA are other teams to compete in the event.
MMC, Nepal Army, Bhutan and Three Star have received byes and will directly compete in the quarterfinal stage. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club of Bangladesh and MMC of Nepal were the champions of the first and second editions of the tournament which is set to be held for the third time.
The winner and the runner-up of the tournament will get cash prize of Rs 355,000 and Rs 201,000 respectively along with trophies, medals and certificates. Similarly best player of the tournament will be given ´attractive prize´ while a best player each in four different positions -- goalkeeping, defense, midfield, forward -- high scorer and best coach will be given cash prize of Rs 15,000 each.
The expected cost of the tournament is Rs 5.56 million and the organizers have targeted to raise one million more. The surplus amount will be deposited in the players welfare fund of the KDFA, which currently has a balance of Rs 800,0000.
Runner up Machhindra excluded!
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): Surprising the Nepali football fraternity, Safal Pokhara Cup organizer excluded runner-up NMB Bank Machhindra Football Club for the tournament, which starts October 22.
The organizer Kaski District Football Association came up with shocking comment regarding the exclusion of Machhindra. "Maybe the team´s standard did not meet the selection requirement. Also, it is not necessary for the runner-up of the last edition to take part in the tournament," said KDFA President Gopi Bhattarai.
Machhindra had not only finished runner-up in Safal Cup, but also stood third in the first round of Martyrs Memorial League and sixth in the Super Eight rounds of the league.
Jawalakhel Youth Club and Armed Police Force (APF) which had narrowly escaped relegation had been surprisingly called for the tournament.
"We were ready to participate in the tournament and had also started preparations," said Biplav Gautam, the vice president of Machhindra FC, an independent body of Machhindra Club that is responsible to look after all football activities of the club.
"We knew last week that we were not in the tournament. Earlier, KDFA president had pledged me that we must compete in the tournament while we met at ANFA. Better the organizer knows why we were not in the tournament."
According to ANFA source, Machhindra was excluded from the tournament in the last moment under the instruction of ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, who is not happy with the new football management team. The U-16 national football team has come as replacement of Machhindra in the tournament.
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