Aaha! Gold Cup

Aaha! Rara Gold Cup
आहा RARA गोल्ड कप

Founded	2002 2003 (current format)
Region	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
Carlton Football Club	0	1
Friends Club	0	1
Jawalakhel Youth Club	0	1

External links

References

Football in Nepal

All Nepal Football Association

National teams	Men Men's B U-23 U-20 U-17 U-14 Women Women's Women's U-14

League system	Men National League District League Martyr's Memorial League (A-Division • B-Division • C-Division) Women Nepal Women's Football League

Domestic Cups	Men Aaha! RARA Gold Cup Birat Gold Cup Budha Subba Gold Cup Pokhara Cup Simara Gold Cup Jhapa Gold Cup Women Ncell Women's National Football Championship Youth Coca Cola Cup Inter-school Tournament Ncell Youth Cup HISSAN Cup ANFA U-14 Girls’ Football Tournament ANFA President shield

Defunct	ANFA Cup British Gurkha Cup Birendra Memorial Cup Birthday Cup Devi Maya Memorial Shield San Miguel Itahari Gold Cup Khukuri Gold Cup Mahendra Gold Cup National League Cup Ncell Cup Ram Janaki Football Tournament Tribhuwan Challenge Shield Wai Wai Trophy

Clubs

A-Division	APF Club Boys Union Club Friends Club Himalayan Sherpa Club Jawalakhel Youth Club Machhindra FC Manang Marshyangdi Club Nepal Army Club Nepal Police Club RCT Sankata Club Saraswoti Youth Club Three Star Club

B Division	Birgunj Youth Academy Club Boudha FC Brigade Boys Club Chyasal Youth Club MYA NBSC Mahabir Club Bansbari Football Club Pulchowk SC Samajik Youth Club Satdobato Youth Club Shree Kumari Club] Tushal Youth Club

C Division	Boys Sports Club Gyanbhairab Club Jamshikhel Youth Club Kalanki Nawajyoti Club Khalibari FC Khumaltar FC Naya Basti Saksham Club Oasis Club Planning Boys United Club Sanepa FC Sanogaucharan Youth Club Shree Bhagwati Social Welfare Sports Centre

Others	African United Club Birgunj United British School FC Dharan F.C. Hong Kong Nepalese Football Association Kanchanjunga F.C. Lalbandi F.C. Munal Club Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club Nepal Japan Youth Club Sagarmatha XI Sahara Club (Pokhara) Sahara Club (UK) Sahara Club (Hong Kong) Samrat Sporting Club Sangam Club Simara FC United Nepal Football Club

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