Sports
Simara Gold Cup: Army cruise to fifth title
Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) claimed their fifth title of the season after two second half goals gave them 2-0 win over Three Star Club in the final of the ninth Simara Gold Cup football tournament at the Simara stadium on Saturday.Laxmi Sah
Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) claimed their fifth title of the season after two second half goals gave them 2-0 win over Three Star Club in the final of the ninth Simara Gold Cup football tournament at the Simara stadium on Saturday.
Substitute Dinesh Henjan and Nepali international striker Nawayug Shrestha scored after the break in what looked like a comfortable victory for the departmental team. The victory over Lalitpur-based outfit gave Army fifth silverware of the season having previously lifted trophies of Khaptad Gold Cup in Dhangadi, Bishal Memorial Gold Cup in Birgunj, Satashi Gold Cup and Kakadbhitta Gold Cup in Jhapa. The win also handed TAC a cash purse of Rs 551,000. Three Star took home Rs 250,000.
Henjan, the 37th minute replacement for George Prince Kari, broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a powerful shot from the zone and took his goal tally to three goals. Henjan collected the ball fumbled by Three Star goalie Alan Neupane in his bid to prevent Shrestha’s acrobatic shot before firing at the back of net.
Shrestha doubled the advantage in the 74th with a scorcher from the zone
fed by skipper Bharat Khawas. Three Star, chasing their third title of the season in one-month span, came with below par performance in the final. Three Star have appeared in their fourth final in knockouts in as many weeks. They were crowned champions of the Itahari Gold Cup on January 27 and Budha Subba Gold Cup (Dharan) on February 10 before losing in the final of Aaha-Rara Gold Cup in Pokhara on February 3.
Champions Army also dominated the individual award winning five out of seven up for grabs. Henjan, the highest scorer of the tournament with three goals, of Army scooped best player award and rode a two wheeler.
Bikesh Kuthu (goalkeeper), Bimal Pandey (defender), George Prince Karki (forward), Nabin Neupane (coach) were the other individual award winners for the Armymen. Three Star captain Nirajan Khadka won the best midfielder award and the fair play team went to hosts Nawa Jana Jagriti (Blue). All of them got Rs 15,000 apiece.
Manang off to winning start in Hetauda
HETAUDA: Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) pipped Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 1-0 in the curtain raiser of the third Hetauda Gold Cup football tournament at the Institute of Forestry ground here on Saturday.
Winger Sujal Shrestha scored the lone goal from the penalty spot in the 28th minute as the ‘A’ Division giants entered the semi-finals of the tournament. MMC were rewarded with the penalty after APF’s Sujan Gurung fouled MMC’s Victor inside the danger area. Shrestha converted the resulting penalty for MMC who are chasing their third title of the season.
MMC had won Jaycess Cup (Chitwan) and Duhabi Gold Cup (Duhabi) earlier this season. Despite the defeat APF’s Anjan Bista, the Nepali international who was playing at his hometown, was rewarded the-man-of-the-match award. Bijay Youth Club of Hetauda will vie against Nepal Police Club in the second quarter-final on Sunday.
The knockout tournament organised by Suman Bhomjan Memorial Foundation offers cash prize of Rs 500,000 to the winners and Rs 300,000 to the runners up. (PR)