MPC beat Galaxians to meet Sahara Blue in semis

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POKHARA, Feb 28: Star-studded Mahendra Police Club (MPC) triumphed over the youthful exuberance of Galaxian Club to advance into the semifinals of the Caravan Gold Cup football tournament with a 3-0 win on Thursday.

Regarded as pre-tournament favourites, MPC, who made a direct entry into the quarterfinals, failed to match the high expectation of the local crowd . On the other hand, Galaxian Club, caught the imagination of the crowd with an entertaining brand of football. But their inability to translate opportunities left them at the losing end.

While MPC looked sharp at the goal, translating on three out of the total six opportunities, the Galaxians, despite having as many as a dozen chances, failed on all of them including a penalty miss.

On top of that all, what Galaxian Club were found wanting most in the match was their lack of confidence to take on the police outfit. Their poor match temperament, arguing with the referee over an issue of ordinary-looking foul in the 22nd minute, also casted the gloom on them. That only brought more harm than good to them as the referee booked Prakash Dewan.

And it was not too long before the trouble started befalling on them. In the 29th minute, MPC broke the deadlock to go 1-0 up. Ananta Thapa, bringing a well-struck flag kick of Raju
Katuwal, unleashed a power-packed shot from the edge of the penalty box that only ended at the back of the net.

The goal completely unsettled the Galaxians, and that only helped MPC and Thapa to be more precise as he scored a beautiful goal two minutes later. Taking a pass at the middle of the pitch, he beat the Galaxian keeper with a thunderous long-range shot to put MPC 2-0 clear at the break.

Trailing by two goals, Galaxian Club tried desperately to comeback into the match. Prabesh Katuwal, Babulal Hasta and Hridesh Thapa, especially kept the spectators’ heartbeat high with their crisp passes in the MPC territory. While their tireless effort failed to bear fruit, MPC widened the gap on counterattack.

The Galaxians in a bid to score a goal, pushed everyone upfield leaving enough space in the back. And 18 minutes into the second half, Hari Khadka, who is considered a cool customer on such occasions, left the opposition stunned with a sudden burst of speed and scored to give a comprehensive 3-0 lead.

Galaxian Club had a glorious chance to narrow the deficit in the 67th minute when the referee penalised MPC player Deepak Poudel for ball handling inside the penalty area. Surendra Tamang stepped up to take the shot but failed to beat the police custodian Sanjeev Joshi, who showed sharp anticipation to maintain a clean sheet.

With this win, MPC have set up meeting with Sahara Club (Blue) in Saturday’s second semifinal. Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Eastern Railways of Kolkata play in the first semifinal on Friday.

ANFA donates US$ 10,000 to late Shahi’s wife

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) handed over 10,000 US Dollar cheque to Kunti Rana Shahi, the wife of late Tika Ram Shahi, at a function organised on Thursday.

The programme chief guest Madav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition party CPN UML, offered the cheque on behalf of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to Mrs Shahi.

Shahi, who died on 18 April last year at Ganga Lal Hospital, Delhi was the vice-president of Geeta Rana-led ANFA.

On the occasion ANFA president Ganesh Thapa highlighted late Shahi’s contribution towards the development of the Regional football. Thapa also disclosed his team’s willingness to solve the long-running ANFA dispute of leadership. He also revealed ANFA’s plan to set fixed deposit fund of Rs 5 million for the welfare of the national football players. "In 2003, we will double the amount and by 2006 we will set academies in all Development Regions," declared Thapa.

Thapa also insisted ANFA’s commitment to stave off the chances of Nepal meeting with a similar fate to that of Bangladesh. The football’s world governing body FIFA suspended Bangladesh Football on 11 January citing ‘government interference’ in the national association.

"If such situation emerges, we will withdraw ourselves for the welfare of country’s football," he conceded.

Kunti Shahi pledged the related body to set a memorial football tournament on the name of Shahi who contributed almost 30 years for the development of the country’s football as an expert.

The programme’s chief guest Nepal blamed the government for it inefficiency to resolve the ANFA dispute. Former minister and ANFA president Kamal Thapa, Narendra Shrestha and Deep Kumar Upadhyaya were also present at the function.

South Point excel to down Excelsior

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The Excelsior School’s winning run came to a disappointing end when South Point School edged them out 54-50 in one of the most closely contested battles in senior boys’ category of the fourth Wilson Inter-school basketball tournament on Thursday.

Raju Maharjan was the hero of the match netting 26 individual points while Paras Khadka provided him a good support with 15 valuable points for South Point School. For the losing side, Kamal Gurung topscored with 18 points where as Prem Thapa found six baskets to score 12 points.

In the second match of the same category, New Summit School humiliated Maha Manjushree School 71-9 in a one-sided affair. Manish Baniya scored 40 - the tournament’s second highest individual score. Anil Joshi provided well support netting 18 points.

In the day, which saw few records tumble, Rhododendron International Boarding School’s (RIBS) ‘A’ team scored the highest total 130 against Rupy’s International School 17 in the same category. More than the half of the total score were scored by Jagat Gauchan, who finished with 66 points, the highest in all categories in the tournament. Prakhyat Dong and Rupak Gurung contributed with 25 and 23 points respectively.

Gyanodaya School made it two in row demolishing Daffodil School 98-8 in the day’s last match of the same category. Shyam Gyan Limbu again came good as a captain netting 23 points. Diwas Mayor also scored 20 points while Bupendra Rai netted 15 points to pile on the Daffodil’s agony.

Lanky player Kavita Chapagain again topscored with nine points for the hosts’ team to register a convincing 19-6 win over Rupy’s International School in the day’s only senior girls’ clash.

In junior boys’ opening match, Sridewa stun the hosts 29-10 while in staff match, Lincoln
School continued their winning streak with a comfortable 58-24 win over RIBS.