Both ANFAs to host Birthday Cup

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 6- The ongoing drama between Gita Rana led All Nepal Football Association( ANFA) and Ganesh Thapa led ANFA took an interesting turn as both the ANFAs today announced through a press release that they will host the Birthday Cup Football Tournament, one of the most prestigious football tournament of Nepal's footballing calendar. ANFA led by Thapa has announced that the tournament will kick off from Dec 16 while the other ANFA announced that the tournament will begin from Dec 23.

All the A Division clubs of the country along with Mahendra Police Club, Tribhuvan Club, teams from Eastern Region and Western Region, neighbouring teams from Bangladesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan's national side will be invited to participate in the championship, Rana led ANFA states in the release.     

A total sum of 1.5 m rupees is expected to cost to cover the tournament and the cost will be covered up by sponsorship, ticket sales and donations, the press release by Rana led ANFA further adds.

For the successful holding of the championship, a main organising committee has also been formed, the release says.

Meanwhile, the Thapa led ANFA has stated in the release that they will give away the Rupak best player award on Dec 30.

However, since the time schedule for the tournament announced coincides with each other, it is not known where the tournament will be organised.

Khetan Group wins trophy, others win heart

By Somesh Verma

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - Soaltee Super Sixes, the three day cricket tournament with the slogan 'all play and no work' finally ended on Sunday as Khetan Group emerged the eventual champions.

The tournament designed for the diplomats and executives produced some good quality cricket which should be a positive sign for the future of the game in the country. The matches played were competitive in nature, thanks to some big efforts from little known players who had to compete against the likes of Monir and Sandeep Shrestha.

The tournament as expected brought to light some new stars while last year's heroes continued to impress. Player of the series Monir Shrestha's performance was the major highlight of the tourney. He had the scores of 27 not out, 31 (retired), 31 (retired) and 22 not out. He also bowled superbly throughout the tournament in which he bowled two maiden overs. A maiden over in a match of five overs a side is a rare species.

Srikantha Dhungana of Surya Tobacco, adjudged the best batsman of the championship had a fine tournament with scores like 30 not out, 21 and 30 not out. He showed aggressive batting and was instrumental in his team reaching the semi-finals.

Paras Joshi, captain of Kantipur Publications and the best batsman of Soaltee Super Sixes last year, was adjudjed the best bowler of the tourney. His bowling against the Indian Embassy which got him three wickets in a single over being one of the highlights of the championship. His batting in the tournament was praiseworthy as well. The other notable contributions from the Kanitpur team was from Sohan Shrestha who took a wicket in every over he bowled which went unnoticed while Amar Pradhan of Kantipur Publications was instrumental in his team's entry in the semis with a mean and miserly over against the Soaltee team.

The other players who left their mark on the game were Andrew Mitchell, last year's player of the tournament, Laxman Joshi of Nepal Arab Bank who had shots all round the wicket and Vijay Malhotra of the host team, also the best fielder of the tourney.

The best thing about the tournament was that it provided the platform for cricket where the corporate houses are ready to sponsor.

The good thing the presence of these national players may have done to the tournament is that from next year other corporate houses will be lured into playing big names from Nepali cricket field.

Another thing that went unnoticed was the absence of former Indian Test batsman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who as promised by the organisers should have been present in the prize distribution ceremony as chief guest.