Aaha Gold Cup: A low key affair

Nepal’s premier club Nepal Police Club did themselves proud by winning the eight edition of the Aaha Gold Cup football championship for the third time in a row at the expense of their arch rival Nepal Army Club in Pokhara recently.

The battle between the two security sides had spectators on their toes in the entire ninety plus minute action.  At the end the defending champion prevailed in extra -time to win their first championship of 2010. 

The cops were able to rebound, following their   surprise quarter-final exit at the British Gold Cup tournament in Kathmandu. For the final the team was in full strength, including key players who were in Bangladesh for the South Asian Games.

The matter of fact is that, their presence made a world of difference against a rejuvenated army outfit coached by former skipper of the national team Raju Shakya. It was a delight to see the military team in action after a   fairly long interval.

Though the final was engrossing and absorbing, the cops had the last laugh. The   competition   was a rousing success from every aspect and well received and supported by locals.   Since the inception  of Aaha Gold Cup it has  gone to become  one of the country’s  foremost    championships.

Withstanding   financial crunch and limited resources Sahara Club of Pokhara, the organizer   deserves credit for the overwhelming success of the event.  Apart from organizing the tournament, the Club has been actively engaged in pursuit of local talents, a noble cause indeed.
They  have established a football  academy  called “ Orphan and Helpless” .As the name suggest, they  have  targeted    talented boys   with the  purpose  to groom them into successful  footballers.   

 The club’s   biggest   find is   international   footballer Anil Gurung, and they hope to unearth more footballers in the caliber of the ace striker.

 Coming back to the   championship, the list of participants this year was far from impressive. Three Star   Club’s  absence took away some of the shine off the competition.  

  Several   teams   were sans their key players because of Nepal’s participation at the South Asian Games in Bangladesh.  Likewise, Indian teams participation was limited to Gorkha United, which in fact surprised me.

The   inclusion of  Machhindra  FC and  Knight Chess, Jhapa  in the competition was a good move on  part of the organizer .The two teams  studded with  highly talented  youngsters unheard of  have  played exceptionally well  lately.

True, contrary to expectations,  both outfits   were  docile and complacent  much to everyone’s chagrin, but  the road does not end   here  for them  without a doubt.   In order to   put  themselves  in  a position to challenge   the top  notch teams in the country, they  must   get down to serious business and  overcome  their mediocrity.   

 Much was expected of All Nepal Football Association under-16 but they failed to display the   dazzle and positive brand of football they are known for, nonetheless, the young   aspirants    have the potential to become  successful footballers. 

Focus  was largely  on the three departmental teams, Nepal Police, Nepal  Army and Armed Police Force. There was   support  aplenty for  the local outfit  Sahara Club and Sahara Club (United Kingdom). However, at the end of the day, it turned out to be an all  out  tussle  between the  country’s  top  clubs. Undoubtedly, the event    proved   a wholesome entertainer and   captivated   spectator’s   interest   throughout.

The   kind of   local   support the tournament  has enjoyed  over the years, is simply phenomenal. But in   order  to sustain  success over a period of time    it is   extremely imperative  that  the organizer  pay  serious  heed    to quality of participants and  not rush  to  finish off the tournament as seen.

Long as the  event  grows in stature and magnitude, it is bound to become  more popular, meaningful  and consequential. Otherwise, it might  drift away to become just  another  run of the mill  tournament.