A football tournament being organised by the Nonresident Nepalese Association (NRN)-Qatar will have a prize pool of QR19,000, the association said in a recent press conference at the Top Firm Restaurant in DOha.
The tournament — NRN Cup Football-2014 — will see participation from 24 Nepali teams and is scheduled to start on August 28, said the organisers.
The winning team will get QR10,000, while the runners-up and second runners-up will get QR5,000 and QR3,000, respectively. The top three teams will also receive cups, medals and certificates. The organisers have also set aside other awards in the tournament such as the Fair Play Award for the most disciplined player and awards for the top scorer and the best goalkeeper. The tournament will be played at the Al Arabi Sports Club.
The 24 teams have been segregated into two groups.
Narayan Gopal IAAF, Pathibhara Taplejung, Bageshwori Radhapur, Bhadrakaali Prabashi, Buddha BB AFC, Saptakoshi Amal Service, Makalu Black Cat, Kanchanjungha, Mount Everest, Lakhan Thapa Magar, Rupse Chhago Myagdi and Munal United have been placed in the first group.
Similarly, Annapurna, Daphne Tamang Society, Machhapuchhre Group Four, Fewa, Ranipokhari Unity Boys, Laligurans Purbanchal, Haleshi and Janakpur Laligurans have been placed in the second group.
The tournament is being coordinated by a five-member management committee headed by TN Baral. Depak Khadka will supervise the games.
The organisers said they have made adequate arrangements to host the audience. First aid kits will also be available on hand during the matches. The security at the venues will be ensured by a team of volunteers, according to the organisers.
All matches will be 50 minutes long, except semifinals and the final match, which will each be 90 minutes long. A playoff match ending in draw will go straight to penalty shootouts with there being no provision for extra time. Each team will be allowed a maximum of five substitutions during a match.
The final match is scheduled for September 19.
The press conference was attended by senior NRN members, journalists and members of the Nepali expatriate community in Qatar. Text and Photo: Usha Wagle Gautam
