ANFA releases Nirajan Memorial Cup draw

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BIRATNAGAR, Jan 28: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has released a draw for the Nirajan Memorial Invitational football tournament starting on January 30 at the local Sahid Stadium.

The 11-day tournament will draw a total of 12 teams including six ‘A’ division club, two departmental clubs and three invited clubs from India. The tournament’s organising cost, according to ANFA, is estimated at Rs 1.1 million including allowance to each participating team amounting to Rs 7,500 each day for accommodation, transportation.

Geeta Rana, the president ANFA while addressing a press conference, informed about the association’s plan to organise the tournament each year in different regions. She also told reporters that ANFA would select country’s professional footballers within February through the district-level league football tournament.

According to the draw, the tournament kicks off with the match between Galaxian Club and Kurseong XI. Three other clubs that made it to the semifinals of the recently concluded Birendra Memorial Invitational football tournament in the capital earn the automatic quarterfinal berth. A visiting Eastern Railway team of Kolkata joins them in the quarterfinal. The 12 teams are divided into two Pools with Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC), Galaxian Club, Kurseong-XI, Tribhuvan Club, New Road Team (NRT) and Eastern Railway Kolkata pitted in Group ‘A’. Mahendra Police Club (MPC), Three Star Club, RCT, Eastern Region XI, Sikkim XI and Friends Club make up Group ‘B’.

Tournament Programme

Match Date Fixtures

1. Jan 30 Galaxian Club vs Kurseong-XI

2. Jan 31 Three Star Club vs RCT

3. Feb 1 Tribhuvan Club vs New Road Team

4. Feb 2 Eastern-XI vs Sikkim-XI

5. Feb 3 Winner of match 1 vs Manang Marsyangdi Club

6. Feb 4 Winner of match 2 vs Mahendra Police Club

7. Feb 5 Winner of match 3 vs Eastern Railway Kolkata

8. Feb 6 Winner of match 4 vs Friends’ Club

9. Feb 7 Winner of match 5 vs winner of match 7 [semifinal]

10. Feb 8 Winner of match 6 vs winner of match 8 [semifinal]

11. Feb 10 Winner of match 9 vs winner of match 10 [final]

JYC to meet Tribhuvan Club in final

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BHAKTAPUR, Jan 28: Tribhuvan Club and Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) won their respective semifinal match here Monday to set up the Tuesday’s summit clash of the third National Workers’ Cup Volleyball Championship.

In the matches held at the local Martyrs’ memorial volleyball court, Tribhuvan Club ousted Kaski Volleyball Association while JYC put off the challenge of Galaxian Club.

In what turned out to be the tournament’s most exciting battle thus far, Tribhuvan Club staged a brilliant comeback from a game down to clinch a 22-25, 25-12, 25-10, 24-26, 15-9 victory over Kaski.

Kaski, giving an early indication of their strength, started promisingly to win the opening game 25-22. But Tribhuvan Club stormed back into the match with an easy 25-12 win in the second to level the score at 1-1

The army team, displaying their attacking volleyball, clinched the third game quite convincingly at 25-10. However, just as it seemed they would cruise along to the final without further hiccup, they were forced to toil for an extra game as Kaski snatched the fourth game from the jaws of defeat. Tribhuvan Club were just one point away from the final but Kaski’s Lekhnath Lamsal ram home two consecutive points to take the game at 26-24.

The Army outfit put things together in the deciding game to secure their place in the final with a 15-9 win. Kaski, despite losing the match, had a consolation when Lekhnath Lamsal was adjudged man of the match for the third consecutive time.

"The wet court and poor team coordination put paid to the team’s hopes," said Kaski team coach Pandu Shrestha, who was nevertheless satisfied with his team’s performance against the Army.

On the other hand, Army team’s coach admitted that their players lost the rhythm in the first game. "But we landed safely at last," he said.

In the other semifinal, JYC registered a stunning 25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17 victory over national player-studded Galaxian Club. JYC, after taking the opening game quite comfortably, were forced to  their toes by Galaxians who clawed back to square the score at 1-1. But they held  their nerves and clinched two subsequent games with convincing margin to advance to the final.