Aaha! Gold Cup

Aaha! Rara Gold Cup
आहा RARA गोल्ड कप
Founded 2002
2003 (current format)
Region Nepal Pokhara, Nepal
Number of teams 12
Current champions Manang Marshyangdi Club
Most successful club(s) Nepal Police Club
(5 titles)
Motto Official anthem
2016 Aaha! Rara Gold Cup

Aaha! Gold Cup (Nepali: आहा गोल्ड कप āhā gōlḍ kap) is an annual international football (soccer) tournament held in Pokhara, Nepal, and organized by the Sahara Club. It was formerly known as the Caravan Gold Cup, however due to sponsorship reasons it is currently known as the Aaha! Rara Gold Cup. It is considered a major football tournament in Nepal, and is therefore endorsed by ANFA Kaski, a district FA of the All Nepal Football Association.

Background

Sahara Club (Pokhara) have been running a football-based academy for under-privileged children from the profit of the tournament and donations from various individuals and organisations. At present, there are 17 children at the academy and the club have planned to add 13 more in near future, according to Sahara Club’s General Secretary Keshav Bahadur Thapa.

The major attraction of the cup is the involvement of major clubs of Nepal and some international clubs. The cup is recognized by ANFA and is included in its annual calendar. The tournament is conducted in knockout format and 12 teams compete for the title. The tournament is the main event keeping the spirit of football alive in Nepal and handsomely rewards the clubs and players. It is also the longest sporting event to be held regularly.[1]

On the 13th edition of the tournament, English non-league side Aldershot Town FC entered in the tournament, and thus became the first European (UEFA) club to compete in the tournament's history.[2]

Previous Winners

Title Year B.S. Year A.D. Champions Runners up
Caravan 2058 2002 Nepal Police Club Manang Marsyangdi Club
I 2059 2003 Nepal Police Club Friends Club
II 2060 2004 Manang Marsyangdi Club[3] Carlton Football Club
III 2061 2005 Manang Marsyangdi Club Nepal Police Club
IV 2062 2006 African United Club[4] Nepal Police Club
V 2063 2007 Three Star Club Manang Marsyangdi Club
VI 2064 2008 Nepal Police Club APF Club
VII 2065 2009 Nepal Police Club Nepal Army Club
VIII 2066 2010 Nepal Police Club[5] Tribhuvan Army Club
IX 2067 2011 Three Star Club Manang Marsyangdi Club
X 2068 2012 Manang Marsyangdi Club[6] Jawalakhel Youth Club
XI 2069 2013 Three Star Club[7] Sahara Club (Pokhara)
XII 2070 2014 Sahara Club (Pokhara)[8] Manang Marshyangdi Club
XIII 2071 2015 Three Star Club Manang Marshyangdi Club
XIV 2072 2016 Manang Marshyangdi Club[9] Nepal Army Club

Top performing clubs

Club Champions Runners-Up
Nepal Police Club 5 2
Manang Marshyangdi Club 4 5
Three Star Club 4 0
Sahara Club (Pokhara) 1 1
African United Club 1 0
Nepal Army Club (formerly Tribhuwan Army Club) 0 3
APF Club 0 1
India Carlton Football Club 0 1
Friends Club 0 1
Jawalakhel Youth Club 0 1

External links

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, May 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.